MWC19 Kicks Off in Barcelona

This years' edition of MWC is kicking off today in Barcelona. By February 28 it should attract more than 107,000 professionals from over 200 countries and territories.

“With the anticipated arrival of 5G, this year’s event is set to be one of the most exciting as the industry convenes to showcase Intelligent Connectivity across new technologies on the brink of reaching millions of people across the world,“ said John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA. “Over the four days of MWC19, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leaders who are driving innovation and we look forward once again to welcoming the mobile world to Barcelona.“

The GSMA announced the addition of several new keynote speakers for MWC19 including executives from leading mobile operators and organisations shaping the future of mobile. New keynote speakers include Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO, Cisco, Dieter Zetsche, Chairman, Daimler and Mercedes Benz, Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner, Digital Economy and Society, European Union, Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, Amina  Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations and many others.

4 Years from Now (4YFN), a start-up event platform, will welcome over 21,000 attendees in its sixth edition in Barcelona. The GSMA Innovation City will return to MWC19, placing a particular emphasis on the theme of ‘Intelligent Connectivity’, the mix of 5G, IoT, AI and big data and how it will positively impact the lives of citizens and businesses around the world. MWC Barcelona will again offer focused Topic Tours of the exhibition at Fira Gran Via, led by industry experts.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend a variety of programmes in Hall 8.0 NEXTech. Here they will be able gain insights from industry leaders who will hold more than 35 sessions over the course of the event. Back for its third year and continuing the GSMA’s commitment to reducing the gender gap in the mobile ecosystem, the GSMA Women4Tech Summit will gather senior leaders to discuss hot topics ranging from finding AI talent to working in a post #MeToo world, among others. New for 2019, YoMo (The Youth Mobile Festival) will showcase a number of new activities by young enterpreneurs.