6G, AI & the Future of Connectivity
with John Giusti | Hosted by Jake E. Jennings
August 20, 2026
Coffee, Trade, and Tech, Episode #11
How does one standard connect billions of phones in every country on Earth — and who decides what comes next? John Giusti steps into the Tholos Circle to break it down.
John Giusti is Chief Regulatory Officer of the GSMA, the global organization representing mobile network operators and the broader mobile ecosystem. Drawing on nearly two decades of shared history dating back to their time at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Jake and John trace GSM's origins as a 1987 European standards agreement and follow it through to today's fight over spectrum, AI, and mobile fraud.
This is Episode 11 of our Tholos Talks series, Coffee, Trade, and Tech, where Basilinna Chair of Technology and Trade, Jake E. Jennings, sits down with global leaders and industry experts to unpack the defining economic challenges of today. In this episode:
The 1987 GSM memorandum that unified mobile standards — and why fragmentation is still the risk to avoid
How international cooperation keeps a phone working the same way in Tokyo as it does in DC
Why the World Radio Conference (WRC) is really a spectrum treaty negotiation, not just a conference
Mid-band spectrum, affordability, and why 96% global coverage still leaves billions unconnected
O-RAN and the push for more competition in network equipment
Inside MWC Barcelona 2026: completing the 5G journey, AI's growing role in networks, and mobile security
The "scam economy": $1 trillion in global losses in 2024, and who should be liable
Satellite-to-device connectivity and Pacific Island tsunami early-warning systems
Giusti's advice to regulators: "stop regulating for the market we remember"
Predictions for WRC-27 and next year's spectrum fight
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About Our Guest
John Giusti is Chief Regulatory Officer for the GSMA, where he is responsible for leading the organization's public policy and industry advocacy agenda with governments, regulators and international institutions, as well as overseeing the work of the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation and engaging with key development organizations worldwide.
Prior to joining the GSMA in 2011, John spent 17 years at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), working in a variety of capacities. Most recently, he served as chief of staff and senior policy advisor to Commissioner Michael Copps, where he provided legal, strategic and policy support to the Commissioner on all major agency actions, including the implementation of the National Broadband Plan.
He also previously ran the FCC’s International Bureau, where he managed the agency’s relationships with its foreign counterparts and served as its chief negotiator at meetings of the International Telecommunication Union, the Inter-American Telecommunications Commission and other multilateral organizations.
John was educated in the United States, earning a Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Florida. He has been a member of the Massachusetts bar since 1994.
About Our Host
Jake E. Jennings is Chair of Technology and Trade at Basilinna. He is a seasoned government affairs leader with over three decades of experience with expertise in global trade, supply chain policy, and international markets. His career spans...read the full bio here.
About Tholos Talks
Tholos Talks is a series following the spirit of the tholos circle, where Ancient Greek intellectuals gathered to debate the issues of the day. Through deep insight and thought-provoking dialogue, we offer the tools to decode complexity and illuminate the path forward.
Tholos Talks is hosted by the Basilinna team and is produced by the Basilinna Institute.
Published by Basilinna Institute. All rights reserved.