Episode 3: Sovereignty, Satellites & AI: The New Infrastructure Race

AI, space, and telecoms are colliding faster than the industry can price in. In this episode of Intelligence and Noise from GSMA Intelligence, Peter Jarich and Tim unpack the AI infrastructure boom in China and India, the rise of token-based pricing models, and how telcos are trying to monetise the next wave of compute and connectivity. They also dig into digital sovereignty in Europe, the future of satellite networks, and the hype versus physics behind the SpaceX IPO as the race for global-scale infrastructure intensifies.

00:00 – Introduction and connected devices story

04:38 – AI security and China/India data center investment

07:21 – AI token pricing and monetisation models

09:10 – Telco role in AI infrastructure and revenue opportunity

14:49 – Sovereign cloud, super apps, and Europe’s digital sovereignty push

17:23 – Non-terrestrial networks and satellite compute/control

21:03 – SpaceX IPO, valuation, and TAM debate

25:24 – Investor hype, Elon premium, and business strategy concerns

28:21 – Starlink mobile and addressable market limits

29:49 – Satellite scaling limits and orbital capacity constraints

31:38 – Orbital competition and geopolitical risks

33:08 – MWC Shanghai preview and industry themes

34:19 – DTW Ignite Copenhagen preview

36:19 – GSMA NOVA Napa event and cross-industry collaboration

37:42 – AI grids and future telecom infrastructure models

38:42 – Closing remarks and football chat

Hosted by Peter Jarich and Tim Hatt, every week we cover what's moving in mobile, connectivity, and emerging tech and why it matters.