MWC 2019, Barcelona, Spain

This year’s event began with the message; ‘This is what we’re waiting for’, and as attendees kicked off the most widely anticipated four days of the year, the excitement could be felt throughout the event. MWC19 welcomed the industry’s innovators and influencers with a new theme, a new name, and a new look to usher in the era of “Intelligent Connectivity”.

Attendees explored the era of Intelligent Connectivity; the overarching theme of MWC’s 2019 events that describes the powerful combination of flexible, high-speed 5G networks, IoT, AI and big data. Intelligent Connectivity marks the beginning of a new era, defined by highly contextualized and personalized experiences, delivered as and when you want them, shaping the future of our industry and our world as new innovations intelligently connecting everything and everyone to a better future.

Beyond Mobile:

More than 109,000 visitors from over 198 countries and territories attended MWC19 Barcelona, the mobile industry’s premier event. Over 55 percent of this year’s MWC attendees held senior-level positions, including more than 7,900 CEOs.

More than 2,400 companies showcased the latest technology, products and services across 120,000 net square meters of exhibition and hospitality space at Fira Gran Via.

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GSMA Paving the way:

Mobile World Live TV, which provides telecommunications content throughout MWC, marked the first trial of 5G live broadcasting at the event. This year’s broadcasts were supported by Samsung’s 5G network, enabling true seamless transmission without latency over the entire five days. The GSMA introduced its facial recognition service BREEZ (Biometric Recognition Easy Entry Zone). Participation in BREEZ allowed contactless entry for attendees, meaning that they did not need to show their ID or have their badge scanned in order to enter the event at venue entry points and restricted areas.

Future of Innovation:

At GSMA Innovation City, attendees experienced the mix of 5G, IoT, AI and big data and saw how it will positively impact the lives of citizens and businesses around the world. Visitors had the opportunity to experience a number of hands-on demonstrations across a range of sectors including entertainment, transportation, environment and robotics from our partners Google, Huawei, KT Corporation, Sierra Wireless and Turkcell, as well as from GSMA programs.

Sharing knowledge and Expertise:

Over four days, the conference program at MWC19 highlighted the intersection of ‘hyper-connectivity’, enabled by 5G and IoT, and ‘intelligence’, delivered by AI and big data. In addition to the core elements of Intelligent Connectivity, MWC19 explored eight key topics addressing the greatest industry impact and influence. The keynote sessions featured leaders from established players and industry upstarts, as well as government agencies and the development community.

Championing Industry Diversity:

For its third year, the Women4Tech program provided a platform for attendees focused on reducing the gender gap and championing diversity in the mobile industry. The GSMA Women4Tech Summit gathered senior leaders to discuss trending topics and to help create true equality in the industry. New this year to the Women4Tech Summit was Inside Track, which offered attendees the opportunity to gain critical insights into their own professional skills from a Fortune 500 expert.

Harnessing the next generation of Mobile Leaders:

4YFN, one of the most influential start-up event platforms in the world, welcomed over 23,000 attendees in its sixth edition in Barcelona. The Innovation Market showcased more than 760 exhibitors, while the conference offered attendees content on topics such as AI, blockchain, IoT, technology transfer and corporate venturing, among others.