BarcelonaThe Mobile World Congress (MWC) once again demonstrated its powerful appeal. In its 20th edition, now an event that generates millions for the city (the organizers say over 580 million), it managed to attract some 105,000 attendees, despite the outbreak of war in the Middle East on the opening weekend, which hampered the arrival of some. Some of the leading companies at this congress, such as Huawei, LG, Samsung, and SK Telekom, are Asian.
This annual event leaves a legacy in the city in the form of an ecosystem of start-ups and technology companies that have been forming since the show's inception in 2006. All of this has been achieved with the involvement not only of Fira de Barcelona and the organizing body, the GSMA, but also of administrations such as the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Spanish government, and the Barcelona City Council through the Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation. This model is now being replicated with another global technology event that chose the Catalan capital as its home: Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), specializing in the audiovisual sector.
This collaborative approach distances itself from a politically polarized environment and focuses on joining forces. These types of initiatives ensure that trade shows are not just showcases and occasional meeting points, but rather catalysts for industries and economic activities that are being promoted. Other events, such as the trade show of the startups 4YFN or the Talent Arena, a meeting point for digital professionals, leading technology companies, and students, this year brought together 25,000 people, 25% more than last year.
Mobile World Congress has undergone a true transformation and is no longer just the benchmark for mobile telephony, but also for artificial intelligence (AI)—and especially the ethics that must be linked to it—quantum technology, the future of the space economy, and the horizon of 6G, the generation of telephony that will not yet replace 5G. It is also a place to see and test the application of different technologies in all kinds of sectors, from security to aviation and the new generations of robots.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) has found a place to continue growing in the Catalan capital, where it will remain permanently unless any of the parties involved say otherwise. It is also an essential element for Fira de Barcelona, which has just secured the signing of a new collaboration agreement for the Fira 20 company by the Catalan government and the other shareholders. This agreement includes the cost of the so-called Hall Zero, the new building for the trade fair on the Gran Via site in Hospitalet de Llobregat, which will increase from the initially planned €200.8 million to €365.4 million. The construction, which must guarantee growth for both Mobile World Congress and existing and future trade shows, is currently halfway complete.
