Mobile World Congress is the place to launch new products and reveal the latest technology innovations – from flying cars and Quantum-as-a-Service to 5G for robotics and the telecoms landscape in Africa.
What’s it all about?
Billed as the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event, MWC 2024 is seen as a must-attend for global mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors, content owners, and anyone else interested in the future of tech.
The 2024 theme is Future First which ‘speaks to the urgency of bringing industries, continents, technologies and communities together to realise the future’s potential.” Six sub-themes will shape the agenda, with more than 1,100 speakers presenting across 17 stages.
This year’s event also celebrates the 10th edition of 4FYN, which partners with MWC to showcase future global tech entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Who attends?
Headline attendees for 2024 include Alef Aeronautics, Dell Technologies Ethiopia Telecom Oxford Quantum Circuit, Microsoft, and Xtend. Tech and telecoms giants Accenture, Deutsche Telekom, GSMA, HPE, Telefonica, and Vodafone Group are among others to have already confirmed their attendance.
Where is MWC 2024?
Since the first event in 1990 in Rome, Mobile World Congress took place in Rome, Nice, Berlin, Lisbon, Athens, and Madrid, before moving to Cannes in 1996. It remained there for 10 years until 2006 when it headed to its current home, Barcelona. Last year, the event generated contributed €461mn to the Barcelona economy, according to a GSMA economic impact report. This year, more than 100,000 are once again expected to flock to the Fira Gran Via to fill the nine halls of MWC and 4FYN.
When is it happening?
MWC 2024 will take place from Monday, February 26 to Thursday, February 29.
What’s on the agenda?
All conference sessions will centre around six sub-themes – 5G and Beyond, Connecting Everything, Humanising AI, Manufacturing DX, Game Changers, and Our Digital DNA.
At a glance, topics dominating the conversation look set to include the acceleration and unleashing of 5G’s full potential in vertical industries such as enterprise and transport, how ethical AI is and sustainability.
Few exhibitors have revealed exactly what they will be showcasing yet – but the possibility of MWC providing the first glimpse of the Nothing phone is already causing a stir. Aside from that, no doubt we will see a number of AI applications being launched and plenty of talk around industry 4.0.
How do I attend?
Various pass levels are available from the Mobile World Congress website.