Everyone had the feeling that this year's Mobile World Congress (MWC) had exceeded expectations, and the numbers have confirmed it. The technology fair has once again surpassed the 100,000 congress-goers mark, a goal it achieved for the first time in 2016 and had lost with the pandemic. With a participation of almost 101,000 attendees from a total of 205 countries and regions, it has amply surpassed the numbers recorded a year ago, when they stood at 88,500 congress-goers, as well as the forecasts the organizers had a month in advance, when 95,000 participants were expected. The strongest days traditionally have been Monday and Tuesday, but some exhibitors have noticed that this year the pace had not slowed down on Wednesday, even this very Thursday, the last day of the congress when many congress-goers usually have returned home.
"It has been the best edition in the history of MWC," said its most visible face, John Hoffman, shortly after the closing of the Gran Via exhibition center. Beyond the total figure, the GSMA has applauded the quality of the congress-goers, with 51% of attendees at executive level, among whom 21% were C-suite (CEOs and decision-making executives). In addition, the ministerial program was made up of more than 180 delegations from 140 countries, including two heads of state and more than 70 ministers. "This is unique. It is the edition in which more business and more activity has been generated," said the general director of Fira de Barcelona, Constantí Serrallonga. The hundred Catalan companies that participated this year alone generated more than 18 million euros in business volume, above the 15 million euros a year ago, according to the Secretary of Digital Policies of the Government, Gina Tost.
The return of Asian congress-goers has boosted the growth of MWC 2024. The congress consolidates year after year as a neutral ground in the technological battle between the United States and China, which attracts companies from both countries. "This does not happen anywhere else in the world, it only happens here," Serrallonga remarked. Huawei has once again been the exhibitor that has occupied the most space at Mobile, monopolizing almost much more than half of pavilion 1. Some Asian companies like Chuangwei have returned to find clients again after having stopped participating due to the pandemic.
Others have debuted as China Telecom Global. According to its director, Shijia Wu, "it has been a very good and busy few days, where we have been able to meet industry leaders." Until now, they had participated as attendees, but, after their first year, in which they have detected that more companies from their country have come, they are clear that they will return. It has also been the first year for the Japanese KDDI, who wanted to participate "to expand globally," said its president, Makoto Takahashi. "The presence of Asian congress members has been much greater compared to previous years and they have come with great interest," remarked Telco partner at NTT Data, Fernando Rex, who also indicated that they have met many attendees from the Middle East.
In an edition marked by artificial intelligence (AI), present in almost all stands, the MWC has confirmed itself as a show that goes beyond its origin, mobile phones, reaffirming it as the main technological event worldwide. One more year, more than half of the attendees work in industries adjacent to telecommunications, reflecting the digitalization facing the entire economy, from industry and health to entertainment. The proportion has even increased, going from 57% in 2023 to 59% this year. Among the 2,700 exhibitors, there were companies unrelated to telcos such as Airbus or Harman Automotive. Even one of the classic members of Mobile, Xiaomi, has preferred to focus on its autonomous car model. And, without a doubt, the star of the fair has been the robot Ameca. Exhibited by the state telecommunications company of the United Arab Emirates, Etisalat &, it has become the obligatory stop at the fair and everyone wanted to talk to her, although her penetrating gaze and completely human gestures were a little unsettling.
"Barcelona has delivered again," Hoffman concluded, already thinking about next year's edition, which will be held a week later than usual, the first week of March. The congress will have to adapt to a fairground where it already occupies almost all exhibition corners, awaiting the inauguration of the new pavilion, where cranes were still working these days, oblivious to the hustle and bustle of congress attendees just a few steps away. Scheduled to open for Mobile 2027, Fira de Barcelona will have to find ways to make the most of the available space in the next two editions, with external structures between pavilions like those seen in 2019 or by re-occupying the Montjuïc venue, empty since Four Years From Now (4YFN) moved to L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and accelerated its growth.