GSMA Rebrands Annual Barcelona Convention, Reflecting Evolution of Communications Beyond Mobile; Citi, HTC, Vimeo, Vodafone Among KeynotesLondon: The GSMA today announced the first details of MWC19 Barcelona (formerly Mobile World Congress), including keynote speakers, prominent participating companies, programmes and events. MWC19 Barcelona will take place 25-28 February 2019, with events being staged at Fira Gran Via, Fira Montju c and La Farga L'Hospitalet. The GSMA expects that more than 107,000 professionals from over 200 countries and territories, representing a wide range of industry sectors, will attend MWC19 Barcelona.
Under the event theme of Intelligent Connectivity , MWC19 Barcelona will highlight the intersection of hyper-connectivity , enabled by 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), and intelligence , delivered by artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. In addition to the core elements of intelligent connectivity, MWC19 will explore the key topics of Content, Digital Trust, Digital Wellness and The Future.
Underpinned by 5G and AI, intelligent connectivity is a major technological force that will shape how the world communicates well into the future, said Michael O'Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. Attendees will get to experience the impact of intelligent connectivity firsthand, across the conference and exhibition and the many programmes and events taking place at MWC19 Barcelona.
Brand Update for Flagship Event Series
The GSMA also announced that it has rebranded its flagship event series, moving from Mobile World Congress to MWC , a refresh that will be applied across all three global MWC events. The 2019 events will be referred to as MWC19 Barcelona, MWC19 Shanghai and MWC19 Los Angeles.
This marks the first major brand update for our global event portfolio in over a decade, commented O'Hara. We are rapidly moving to a world where mobile will connect everyone and everything, but at the same time, we are expanding our reach beyond mobile. The new brand retains the familiar acronym, while placing less emphasis on mobile' to reflect the broadening scope of communications today.
Execs from Citi, HTC, Vimeo, Vodafone to Keynote
The GSMA revealed the first confirmed keynote speakers for MWC19 Barcelona, with executives representing a wide range of industries including mobile, e-commerce, financial services and media and entertainment. Executives scheduled to headline the four-day Barcelona conference programme include:
James Forese, President, Citi
Blythe Masters, CEO, Digital Asset Holdings
Rich Williams, CEO, Groupon
Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA
Cher Wang, Founder and CEO, HTC
Anjali Sud, CEO, Vimeo
Nick Read, Chief Executive Officer-Designate, Vodafone Group
For more information on the conference, visit www.mwcbarcelona.com/conference-programmes/.
More Than 2,400 Leading Companies to Participate at MWC19 Barcelona
MWC19 Barcelona will bring together leading players from across the mobile ecosystem, as well as adjacent industry sectors such as automotive and consumer electronics, showcasing the latest technologies, products and services. More than 2,400 companies will participate at MWC19, including major brands such as Accenture, Alibaba Cloud, ARM, AT&T, BMW, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Facebook, Google, HTC, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, NTT DOCOMO, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Ooredoo, Oracle, Orange, Qualcomm Incorporated, SAP, SEAT, SK Telecom, Telef nica, Verizon, Vodafone, Xiaomi and ZTE. The show floor will also include more than 40 country and regional pavilions.
One of the perennial favourites at MWC, the GSMA Innovation City will put a spotlight on how intelligent connectivity - 5G, IoT, AI and big data - is impacting and improving the lives of citizens, enterprises and governments around the world. Visitors will experience intelligent connectivity across a range of sectors including entertainment, transportation, public services and industry, among others, with demonstrations from partners Google, Huawei, KT Corporation, Sierra Wireless and Turkcell, as well as GSMA industry and advocacy programmes. For more information, visit www.mwcbarcelona.com/exhibition/gsma-innovation-city/.
NEXTech Hall 8.0 is the destination for MWC19 attendees seeking cutting-edge technology trends, including AI, IoT, drones, robotics and virtual reality/augmented reality (AR/VR), among others. NEXTech will feature several specialised technology areas including the Drone Zone, the Graphene Pavilion and the IoT Pavilion, alongside the NEXTech Lab, an open theatre where leading industry players will present their latest innovations.
New for 2019, the GSMA introduced Digital Planet: The Connected Experience in Hall 8.1, an evolution of App Planet, which has been a mainstay of MWC since 2010. Digital Planet will include over 200 app, ad tech, e-commerce and marketing communication solution providers and other organisations focused on creating connected experiences and solutions that will positively impact citizens' daily lives. Digital Turbine, Infobip, MessageBird and Toyota are among the companies that will be showcased in Digital Planet. Generalitat de Catalunya has been confirmed as the Official Sponsor of Digital Planet.
The GSMA also announced several other sponsors for MWC19 Barcelona. Husqvarna Group and SES Networks have joined as Networking Garden Sponsors, alongside returning Networking Garden Sponsors Android and Citi. Accenture also continues its support for the Women4Tech Programme as the Official Sponsor of the Women4Tech Summit. For more information on the exhibition, including exhibitors and sponsors, visit www.mwcbarcelona.com/exhibition/.
4YFN: Discover Future Innovation
4YFN is the innovation platform for MWC19 Barcelona, enabling startups, investors and
