The global mobile operators' body, GSMA, on Thursday elected Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, as Chairman for a two-year period from January 2017 through December 2018.

As GSMA Chairman, Mittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.

Mittal had led the GSMA board delegation at a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon.

In a broad-ranging discussion, the meeting highlighted the pivotal role of mobile in delivering the government's Digital India vision of broadband as a utility for every citizen, bringing digital and financial inclusion to every corner of the country.

"In my new global role I am excited to support the ongoing mobile broadband revolution in India to boost the government’s Digital India programme and its vision of broadband access for all," Mittal said.

The first Indian to be elected chairman of the prestigious global telecom industry board, Mittal took over as Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) early this year.

He already serves on the boards and councils of several international bodies and think-tanks including the World Economic Forum (WEF), Telecom Board of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Broadband Commission, Harvard University’s Global Advisory Council - Board of Dean’s Advisors at HBS, International Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Prime Minister of Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council.

He is also a trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and on the board of Qatar Foundation Endowment.

The GSMA also elected new members of the 26-member board and re-elected Mari-Noëlle Jego-Laveissiere, Executive Vice-President, Innovation, Orange Group as Deputy Chair for the two-year period.

The GSMA board has 26 members, including 25 operator representatives from the world’s largest operator groups as well as smaller, independent operators with global representation. The GSMA’s Director-General, Mats Granryd, also serves on the GSMA board.

GSMA Chairman Jon Fredrik Baksaas will step down from the board at the end of 2016, after holding this position for the past three years.

“With nearly 4.8 billion individuals around the world subscribing to mobile services, it is the most pervasive and fast-growing platform of users ever built. It is now accessible to billions in both developing and developed markets, providing life-enhancing services and enabling new socio-economic opportunities for all,” commented Baksaas.