Geospatial Data Scientist

Team: GSMA Intelligence

Role type: Fixed term contract until November 2025

Location: New Delhi

About the Team
 
GSMA Intelligence is the definitive source of mobile industry insights, forecasts and research, used around the world. Our insights cover every mobile operator, network and MVNO in every country worldwide – from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Our team of analysts and experts use their deep understanding of markets, technologies and regulatory issues to identify and understand key trends in the telecoms and wider digital ecosystems, and form captivating analysis on the topics shaping the telco industry.

About the Role

The Geospatial Data Scientist will contribute to GSMA Intelligence projects as required, working across a range of subject areas. The main focus will be the collection and analysis of geographic data on mobile network coverage from mobile operators all over the world.

This data sits underneath the GSMA Coverage Maps https://www.gsma.com/coverage/, a service that offers geographical coverage maps for most global markets. The service was previously produced in partnership with Collins Bartholomew, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. GSMA Intelligence has now taken increased responsibility over the service and will drive the production of the maps going forward.

The role holder will use these inputs and other geospatial data sources to produce updated mobile coverage maps for each country in the world. These coverage maps will be combined with a range of other georeferenced datasets, including socio-economic indicators such as population, transport links, nightlight data as well as other geo-referenced information from other technologies (e.g. fibre, satellite) and services (businesses, IoT).

Key responsibilities will include:

• Obtaining coverage files from mobile operators

• Coverage files will come in different formats, typically raster and vector files, but also as a list of coordinates indicating the location of cell towers

• The geospatial data scientist will be responsible for generating coverage maps using radio propagation tools where data allows

• Producing standardised and processed coverage maps, by technology and signal strength, for each country

• Combining or overlaying mobile coverage maps with other geospatial data to provide various analyses of mobile service coverage and quality (for example, relying on geospatial data on population, transport links and other infrastructure, satellite imagery, vegetation)

• Producing effective and compelling visualisations that enable different audiences to understand the extent of mobile coverage in each country

About You

• Domain expertise: The candidate will have at least 2 years’ experience working as a data scientist with geospatial data. Strong quantitative skills are essential. The candidate will be business minded, but with good technical literacy and a knack for seeing through complexity. Detailed understanding of the telecommunications and/or digital industries is desirable, but strong applicants with no experience in this sector will also be considered

• Research and analytical skills: The candidate will have a strong quantitative skillset and will be extremely proficient at Excel, Python’s data science and geospatial packages, and QGIS. He/she should have experience working with very large geospatial datasets and be proficient in using visualisation tools to communicate geospatial data. Previous experience working with geospatial datasets in telecoms is desirable, but not essential. The candidate will also be adept at primary and secondary research

• Presentation: The candidate will be a persuasive communicator, both in writing and in person. The job holder will need to build relationships with mobile operators and other stakeholders that will provide the data inputs that are essential to deliver the analytical outputs. They will have the ability to get consistent internal and external buy-in for their work

• Consultative approach: The candidate will be an inquisitive and creative problem solver, a strong listener driven to solve the needs of internal clients. Strong interpersonal skills are required, working well with team members, providing proactive support to team members, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders and build consensus around an approach

• Global outlook: International experience and fluency in more than one language would be an advantage although not essential

• Solid knowledge of data science and geospatial analysis. Previous experience working with telecoms-related geospatial data would be a plus

• Highly organised individual with excellent attention to detail and a proactive attitude

• Ability to manage own time effectively as well as that of others

• Confident in dealing with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior management and board level individuals

• Collaborative, serves as best practice/quality resource and shares knowledge and expertise with others

Contract type

Worker type

What We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. We offer a chance to truly shape the direction of mobile, whatever your role. By joining the GSMA, you will be exposed to a fast-paced rapidly evolving environment, working on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry-changing projects and a stimulating and dynamic environment designed to enable you to flourish.

In addition to architect-designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include fantastic learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.

To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, our LinkedIn page and our Twitter page.

Being You at the GSMA

We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well-being and work/life balance is important, so flexi-time and remote working is available to all staff. We're keen to ensure everyone is equal, represented and connected so we particularly encourage applications from all demographics. The sucess of the GSMA year on year will continue to be contributed by people from all walks of life.

GSMA Values

Our values not only drive our culture – they shape how we work and interact inside and outside our global organisation.

Passionately driven

We approach everything we do with unparalleled capability, tenacity and commitment, knowing that the challenging scale, pace and complexity of our work is what leads to its world-changing impact.

Insightful leaders

We continually develop and engage our expertise, insight and creativity so that we’re always ready to respond to the changing landscape with authority, agility and nuance.

Stronger together

We lean on each other so the industry can lean on us, embracing our diversity by actively seeking out perspectives and skill sets beyond our own, fuelling each other’s successes and constantly asking how we can help.

Underpinning our values is our collective mindset to show up purposefully as good human beings every day, in every situation. When we’re at our best – we are collaborative, considerate and compassionate to others, and we create a safe space for one another to thrive, assuming positive intent in our colleagues. And if we aren’t at our best and the pressure is on – we feel free to be ourselves but still remain curious, lean into the tough stuff and we are always respectful to others and accountable for the part we play.