EQUALS Gender Inclusivity Index Key Findings

Over the past two years, the GSMA has worked with a select group of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to advance gender inclusivity across the mobile industry. A central part of this effort was the development and pilot of the EQUALS Gender Inclusivity Index – an assessment tool designed to evaluate progress on gender transformation across internal operations, external activities, and wider organisational culture.

More than a diagnostic tool, the Index encourages reflection, dialogue, and structured action. Through a series of deep-dive webinars and a pilot involving MNOs across multiple regions, the results demonstrate both encouraging progress and ongoing challenges in moving from policy commitments to practical implementation.

Participating MNOs highlighted actions such as integrating inclusive language, creating women’s leadership pipelines, investing in STEM education, and introducing workplace flexibility for caregivers. Case studies from Azercell, Bharti Airtel Foundation, Beeline Kazakhstan, Jazz Pakistan, and Telesom show how targeted initiatives can address structural barriers, social norms, and lived experience simultaneously.

A clear message emerged: gender inclusivity delivers strategic business value, enhancing brand reputation, expanding the customer base, nurturing talent, and supporting ESG outcomes. The Index offers a pathway for MNOs to embed inclusivity as a continuous commitment, moving beyond compliance towards meaningful transformation.