Acknowledgments

The Global Economic Model and Study (GEMS) Tool is an ITU initiative developed through a landmark partnership with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The ITU extends its sincere appreciation to the GEMS Advisory Team for their invaluable guidance and expertise. Their strategic insights and thorough review have significantly strengthened the Global Economic Model and Study, ensuring its methodological robustness and enhancing its global credibility. Thanks to their dedication, GEMS serves as a trusted resource for evidence‑based policymaking and for advancing inclusive digital development worldwide.

The GEMS report and analytical tool were prepared by ITU experts Dr Raul Katz and Dr Juan Jung from Telecom Advisory Services (Teleadvs), in collaboration with experts from the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT). The lead author of the study is Dr Raul Katz, who holds a PhD in Political Science and Management Science and an MS in Communications Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States). He also earned a Maîtrise and Licence in Communication Sciences from the University of Paris, as well as a Maîtrise in Political Science from the University of Paris–Sorbonne (France). Dr Juan Jung, holds a PhD and an MA in Economics from the University of Barcelona (Spain) and a BA in Economics from the University of the Republic (Uruguay). Dr Jung is a Senior Economist at Telecom Advisory Services, specializing in the telecommunications and digital industries, with extensive experience in economic impact analysis and regulatory assessment in the telecommunications sector.

The GEMS report builds on findings from ITU research on the economic contribution of broadband, digitization, and ICT regulation. It is also based on an extensive compilation and analysis of statistical data from national and international sources, as well as data from the ITU data Hub, the ITU ICT Regulatory Tracker and the Digital Development Index developed by the Asia Development Bank and the Digital Ecosystem Development Index by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).