This year's edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), which will be held from Monday, February 26 to Thursday, March 1, 2018, will once again make Barcelona the global center of attention for the technology sector for a few days.
More than 2,300 companies are participating in this year's MWC. Among them, and in alphabetical order, are Alibaba, AT&T, BMW, China Mobile, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Facebook, Google, HTC, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, NTT DOCOMO, Nokia, Oracle, Orange, Qualcomm, SAP, SEAT, SK Telecom, Telefónica, Toyota, Vivo, Vodafone, Xiaomi, and ZTE, among others. The complete list of participating companies can be found here or searched by activity area, country, or keyword.
It is not easy to navigate an event the size and characteristics of the MWC. For this reason, at 'The New Barcelona Post' we wanted to highlight eleven key ideas about this year's edition of the Mobile that can serve as a guide for those who want to follow the congress's activity.
5G
Many are the promises of the fifth generation of mobile networks, known as 5G, which should bring users greater capabilities and connection speeds than the current 4G, as well as better and broader communication between devices. 5G should also be the basis for a broad development of the so-called Internet of Things (IoT).
In "The New Barcelona Post" we have published the article "5G and the future of Barcelona," by Carlos Grau, where it is explained that "the arrival of 5G poses one of the greatest technological transformations of recent decades," comparable "to the transition from analog to mobile telephony."
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Artificial Intelligence is, without a doubt, one of the trending topics in many sectors, and it will also be at the Mobile World Congress, where one of the program's main themes revolves precisely around applied Artificial Intelligence.
In the presentation of this part of the program, it is stated that "many of the solutions already enabled today seem straight out of science fiction and the potential for disruption and innovation seems almost limitless." However, as also pointed out by the MWC organization, Artificial Intelligence is a technology and business tool that is still "in its infancy." Among the issues to be discussed will be how "AI is the key to managing, using, and scaling the rich datasets facilitated by connected technologies."
INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)
The digital interconnection between all types of objects, a concept named "Internet of Things" or IoT for its acronym in English, is a key element for the future development of many industries. We are moving towards an automated society thanks to the growth of connected technologies. One of the main themes of this year's MWC program is titled "The Fourth Industrial Revolution," which is said to be "one of the most complex, inclusive, and automated revolutions our society has seen, and at its heart lies mobility."
Automation affects essential aspects of our daily lives, such as transportation - connected vehicles will be, specifically, a focus of attention at this year's MWC - or the way we communicate, and it is enabling the creation of intelligent services that translate "into a new way of living life." And this revolution affects companies of all types as well as cities and governments.
THE BATTLE FOR THE DIGITAL CONSUMER
This is one of the essential keys to the success or failure of any company today: its ability to connect with the new digital consumer. "The way consumers interact and transact with businesses through digital channels is evolving rapidly, driven by constant and rich connectivity and data that create new services and interfaces," states the MWC program presentation dedicated to the digital consumer.
It is about knowing how to offer "gratifying experiences to customers" throughout the entire relationship process with a product or service, and enhancing digital trust. This will be discussed in several sessions of the congress, with the aim of showing how this relationship between companies and their customers evolves "driven by data, automated, intelligent, and personalized."
4YFN
The world of entrepreneurs is the main protagonist of 4 Years from Now, the business platform organized by the Mobile World Capital Barcelona, which celebrates its fifth edition this year and will feature the presence of more than 650 startups.
4YFN connects startups, investors, public institutions, and corporations with the aim of launching new joint projects during MWC 2018. This platform aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and "position Barcelona as a reference hub in digital entrepreneurship."
WOMEN4TECH
MWC offers for the second time the Women4Tech forum, a space that aims to raise awareness in the sector about the need to promote a greater presence of women in the technological and mobile industry. There will be four days of conferences, debates, and activities focused on diversity and equality in this sector. A fact offered by the MWC organization is that women represent 24% of the audience attending the congress.
PRESENTATION OF SAMSUNG'S NEW MOBILE PHONE
All eyes in the industry will be on the Samsung presentation scheduled for Sunday the 25th, one day before the official start of MWC, where the Korean multinational is expected to unveil its new Galaxy S9 model.
The video prior to the presentation focuses on the new possibilities that its camera will offer.
FERNANDO ALONSO AND FORMULA 1
On Tuesday, February 27, at 4:45 PM, McLaren Formula 1 Spanish driver, Fernando Alonso, is scheduled to speak as one of the main presenters at MWC. Alonso will share the stage with McLaren Technology Group CEO, Zak Brown. The two will discuss their vision of the intersection between motorsport and cutting-edge mobile technology. The session is titled "The Fourth Industrial Revolution" and can be followed by streaming, like the rest of the keynotes, through Mobile World Live.
This is the first time that Formula 1 will be present at the Mobile World Congress with its own area at the congress: a 450 square meter stand where visitors can learn about Formula 1's commitment to digital platforms.
VIRTUAL REALITY, DRONES AND ROBOTS
This year, advances in areas such as virtual reality, drones, and robots will enjoy special prominence throughout MWC, both in the conference program and in the products and services that exhibiting companies will showcase.
GLOMO AWARDS 2018
Each year, the GSMA presents the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO Awards), accolades with which it aims to "show how mobile technology continues to inspire new levels of ingenuity, innovation, and achievement," as explained by GSMA Marketing Director, Michael O'Hara. Here you can consult the complete list of finalists in the different GLOMO categories.
CCS Insight President and CEO, Shaun Collins, has been appointed chairman of the GLOMO jury from 2018 to 2020. In his opinion, "there is no doubt that connectivity will be as important to society in the 21st century as electricity was in the 20th century, and the breadth of these awards is a testament to this momentum."
YoMo BARCELONA, THE FESTIVAL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
For the second consecutive year, young students will have a space specifically designed for them. This is the Youth Mobile Festival Barcelona (YoMo Barcelona), which will take place from Tuesday, February 27 to Friday, March 2 at the La Farga L'Hospitalet venue. Among many other activities, YoMo Barcelona will offer the "SDG Trail", an interactive tour that seeks to educate students about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and their impact on society, and also the "Teacher Track", a three-day program with workshops and events designed for education professionals.
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