The 2024 edition of Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s leading trade fair for mobile technology and related industries, opened on Monday in Barcelona, Spain.
This year’s MWC is centered around the ‘Future First’ concept, highlighting the importance of bringing together industries, continents, technologies and communities to realize future possibilities.
The event organizer, the GSMA, expects around 95,000 visitors from around the world to attend the conference at Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, compared to last year’s 88,500. GSMA is the industry association representing the world’s largest mobile phone operators.
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications across devices and networks, advances in 5G and 6G technology, and enhanced connectivity will be among the key topics at this year’s event.
In his opening speech, GSMA Director-General Mats Grandrido emphasized the need to adapt to challenges and opportunities. “Together we are strong, but alone we are nothing,” he said.
“With over half of attendees coming from outside the core mobile ecosystem, MWC no longer represents one industry. As connectivity brings us together, technology expands possibilities and It drives the convergence of technology and purpose across all disciplines, enabling new possibilities.”
This year’s MWC will feature around 2,400 exhibitors and 1,100 speakers, including around 300 Chinese companies such as China Mobile, China Telecom, Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Xiaomi, and iFlytek.
Granrid noted that Chinese carriers are seizing new business-to-business opportunities in areas where their services go beyond traditional core communications.
The event ends on Thursday.
