GSMA Forms Strategic Partnerships to Enhance Automotive and Aviation Connectivity

On March 3, 2025, the GSMA, the global association representing the mobile industry, unveiled a series of strategic collaborations aimed at revolutionizing connectivity within the automotive and aviation sectors. These partnerships are pivotal for understanding the connectivity requirements unique to these industries and developing advanced solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency, and customer experience.

Among the notable organizations joining forces with the GSMA are the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), Japan Automotive Software Platform and Architecture (JASPAR), Outsight, Safran Passenger Innovations, and the Seamless Air Alliance. This initiative builds on a previous cooperation agreement established with the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium in October of the preceding year.

The coordination of these activities will be driven by GSMA Fusion, a newly formed initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of businesses within the sector. GSMA Fusion will identify unmet needs that today’s advanced networks can solve. Under the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, Fusion will work closely with various sectors—including automotive, aviation, and financial services—to accelerate the demand for API-based 5G solutions and deliver innovative services that transform industry capabilities.

Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, commented on the significance of these partnerships: “The collaborations announced today through GSMA Fusion provide a strong signal of these industries' alignment with ours. They will assist the mobile ecosystem in responding to the genuine connectivity demands of the automotive and aviation sectors and harness the power of mobile connectivity to create innovative solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and customer experience. When we launched the GSMA Open Gateway initiative at MWC Barcelona two years ago, we emphasized our ambition to unlock the full potential of 5G networks for all industries via universal access and open-source APIs. Today’s announcement marks a significant stride in this direction.”

Over 72 mobile operator groups, representing nearly 80% of global mobile connections, have joined the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. This open gateway facilitates the design of digital products that can function seamlessly across devices, regardless of country or operator, through application programming interfaces (APIs) that provide insights into network capabilities. These APIs can be accessed via the CAMARA repository, a collaborative open-source project supported by the Linux Foundation, GSMA, and TM Forum.

This forward-thinking approach is essential as the automotive and aviation industries are rapidly evolving and require advanced connectivity solutions to meet the needs of modern consumers and businesses. By fostering collaboration among key players in these sectors, the GSMA aims to drive innovation that propels the capabilities of 5G technology further, enabling smarter, safer, and more efficient transportation.

As the initiative progresses, stakeholders across these industries will undoubtedly benefit from the enhanced connectivity solutions and innovations stemming from these strategic partnerships. The collaboration aims to not only improve operational efficiencies but also elevate the overall customer experience—an essential factor in today’s competitive landscape.

The synergy between the mobile industry and traditional sectors such as automotive and aviation underscores the importance of integrated technologies in shaping the future of transportation and related services. As these partnerships mature, the anticipated outcomes could lay the groundwork for a new era of connectivity that redefines how industries operate and interact with consumers.