At M360 LATAM in Mexico City, the GSMA and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) of the Organization of American States (OAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today,formalising a partnership to deliver free, accredited mobile policy training to regulators and policymakers across OAS Member States, through GSMA’s established Capacity Building Programme.
Why this matters?
Latin America’s digital landscape is evolving fast. From spectrum allocation and 5G rollout to AI governance and cybersecurity, regulators across the region are being asked to make increasingly complex decisions, often with limited access to specialised training.
This partnership directly addresses that gap. Under the MOU, GSMA will deliver courses free of charge to policymakers and regulators, covering 12 policy areas including 5G, spectrum management, competition policy, digital inclusion, and the AI revolution. In-person sessions will be hosted alongside CITEL’s regional committee meetings and other regional events, bringing training directly into the spaces where regional policy decisions are made.
Participants who complete courses will receive CPD-accredited certificates recognised by the UK Telecoms Academy, a portable, professional credential with international standing.
A long-term commitment
The MOU, signed by Lucas Gallitto, Head of Latin America and the Caribbean at GSMA, and Oscar León, Executive Secretary of CITEL, runs until December 2030. Rather than a one-off initiative, this is a sustained investment in regulatory capacity delivers real impact, and directly supports GSMA Capacity Building’s goal of strengthening policymakers’ skills and expertise, while contributing to CITEL’s strategic priorities on universal connectivity, digital transformation and regional cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Oscar G. León-Suarez, Executive Secretary of CITEL, OAS, underlined the significance of the agreement: “This agreement between GSMA and CITEL represents an important step toward strengthening the institutional and regulatory capacities of our 34 Member States in an increasingly dynamic and complex digital environment. At CITEL, we believe that a region that is technically prepared is essential to fostering modern and inclusive public policies that support the sustainable development of connectivity in the Americas. This partnership will help expand access to high level, specialised training on key topics such as 5G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and spectrum management, contributing to a more equitable and effective digital transformation in our region.”
“Through its Capacity Building programme, GSMA makes its technical expertise and mobile ecosystem knowledge available to CITEL and its Member States“, said Gallitto. “This support is provided through targeted training and knowledge sharing.”
For GSMA’s Capacity Building Programme, the partnership extends its reach into a region where the need for quality, accessible training is acute. For CITEL, it adds a concrete, recurring benefit for the policymakers its member states rely on.
As Lucrecia Corvalán, Director of Public Policy for Latin America and the Caribbean at GSMA, put it: “This partnership represents an opportunity to strengthen the valuable work that CITEL is driving in the region by deepening evidence-based knowledge and international best practices, supported by the GSMA.”
Want to learn more about GSMA’s Capacity Building Programme and available courses? Visit gsmatraining.com.