The Mobile confirms its recovery with more than 60,000 congressmen

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) has passed the test with flying colors. From the first day of the congress, it was clear that activity had returned after the pandemic hiatus. The Gran Via exhibition center has seen more than 60,000 congress attendees pass through its halls during the four days the event lasted, coming from almost 200 countries and more than 50% being high-level executives and managers. The GSMA's estimates had been between 40,000 and 60,000 attendees for weeks, and the best forecasts have been confirmed. To the in-person participants, we must add the virtual ones, about 500,000 daily viewers.

"Everything started with the Mobile that was canceled and with the Mobile everything starts again," said the general director of Fira de Barcelona, Constantí Serrallonga. The feeling during the fair has been, precisely, that of feeling that the coronavirus was a thing of the past. Only the masks, always FFP2, reminded that precautions still had to be taken. Despite this, the constant hustle and bustle that occurred in the stands, in the restaurants at lunchtime and in the afterworks confirmed that the end of the crisis is increasingly closer. "It's the return to normality and to enthusiasm," Serrallonga summarized.

In that sense, the GSMA has valued this year's edition as "vibrant" and has reiterated its commitment to in-person attendance. "There is nothing comparable to MWC in person and it has been exciting to bring our community back together," defended its CEO, John Hoffman.

Only the masks, always FFP2, reminded that precautions still had to be taken

Huawei has been the company with the largest exhibition stand at this Mobile, occupying a good part of pavilion 1 by itself. It is worth remembering that it was here where massive antigen tests were carried out on all congress attendees in last year's summer edition. With a pandemic already in retreat and the generalization of vaccination, this space has once again given way to fair activity.

One of the great protagonists of the congress has been 4 Years From Now (4YFN), full of local emerging companies that have had the opportunity to present their business proposals to the congress attendees who have visited them. More than 500 startups have participated in this edition, in which the GSMA estimates there was an investment potential of more than 17,000 million euros.

All this activity brought by the MWC is estimated to have generated an economic impact of more than 240 million euros on Barcelona's economy and the creation of 6,700 temporary jobs. "This edition has marked a before and after in the economic life of the city," Serrallonga stressed. The Catalan capital has also been filled with life both in the days leading up to the congress and this week, with hotels, restaurants, leisure, and taxis feeling a turning point in economic reactivation.

For the general director of Fira de Barcelona, the grand return of Mobile has also served to reinforce the city's leadership, being the largest event held in Europe since the beginning of the crisis caused by the coronavirus. Given all this, Serrallonga has expressed confidence in the revalidation of the contract with the GSMA beyond 2024.

The war in Ukraine, present at the fair

There have also been pavilions where innovations made in some thirty countries have been presented. The fair has seen Russia's attendance vetoed due to the war in Ukraine. Despite this, its companies have been able to be present at a congress where ties with the Ukrainian flag have filled the corridors. There have also been some small concentrations in favor of the Ukrainian people at the entrance of the fair.

The GSMA has remembered them in its final balance. "As the mobile industry gathered this week at MWC22, our thoughts have been with those suffering hardship and loss. Companies, governments, and individuals alike are struggling to find meaningful ways to help, even as the conflict continues to escalate. Many of our members are responding by facilitating communication with loved ones," it stated.