The GSMAthe body in charge of organizing the Mobile World Congress, has offered all the details related to its 2024 edition in Barcelona, which is only a few days away from opening its doors. Among them, its main novelties, as well as the most notable speakers who will participate in the event, which will be held at the Fira Gran Vía in Barcelona from February 26 to 29.
In this edition, which has the motto “Future First”, there will be six subtopics that reflect the latest technologies and trends: 5G and Beyond, Connecting Everything, Humanising AI, Manufacturing DX, Game Changers and Our Digital DNA. Its presentation was carried out by the GSMA CEO Mats Granyrdand of the Event Marketing Director, Lara Dewar.
Both have decided that the new ambassador of the Breaking Barriers campaign will be the Barça women’s player Asisat Oshoala, who will use her profile and that of her foundation to raise awareness about the problems that contribute to the technology use gap. Among them, the level of affordability of smartphones, literacy and digital skills.
The speakers already announced a few weeks ago for this edition of the Mobile World Congress, among whom are Jose María Álvarez Pallete, Julie Sweet, Michael Dell, Antonio Neri, Brad Smith and Margherita Della Valle, are joined by two others: Carme Artigas, Co-president of the UN AI Advisory Board, and Sir Konstantin Sergeevich Novoselo, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics.
4YFN, the startup and innovation platform of the Mobile World Congress Barcelona, will celebrate its tenth edition this year. On the occasion of this anniversary, 4YFN will be held in Hall 8 of the Fira and will have four stages. The 4YFN Awards will be presented, pitching competitions will be held, and several prominent members of the startup world will give presentations. Among them Sara Bisbe, co-founder and Head of Technology and AI at Aily Labs; and Chema Alonso, CDO of Telefónica. 4YFN will also have programs from partner companies, including Amazon, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, ESADE, GSK and the Information Industry Institute.
On the other hand, the GSMA has confirmed the return of the high-tech space of MWC Barcelona Journey to the Future, which shows the technologies that are transforming the health, AI, mobility, sustainability, accessibility and retail sectors. The Sports Tomorrow Congress, organized by the Barça Innovation Hub, also returns, on how mobile technology is transforming sport. Both will be held in pavilion 4.
Meanwhile, Connected Industries They will be in pavilion 4. It will be the space dedicated to showing the vertical innovations under development in industries adjacent to mobile. It will be divided into four zones, and will highlight how connected technologies are changing manufacturing, smart mobility, fintech and mobile commerce, as well as entertainment and leisure. Various speakers will participate in this area who will talk about topics related to connected vehicles, industry 4.0, the dangers of technological fraud and the role of technology in improving the experience of consumers and fans.
He GSMA Ministerial Program, by invitation only, is a gathering of policymakers and technology industry leaders that make the digital economy possible. Within its framework, a photo is held in which ministers, heads of regulatory bodies and policy makers, together with general directors of the mobile telephone sector and representatives of international organizations, share knowledge and advance policy and regulatory issues. Among the main topics that will be discussed in this next edition are investment in networks, spectrum availability and the technology use gap.