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Mobile World Congress (MWC) is a mobile event conference that works to bring together and exhibit innovations and possible future technologies. The conference is attended by global mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors, and content owners. These attendees use the conference to exhibit upcoming products and technologies and to network among other industry members.
In 2022, the themes of the Mobile World Congress included CloudNet, 5G Connect, Internet of Everything, FinTech, Advancing AI, and Tech Horizon.
CloudNet refers to the use of networks to adapt and support service delivery, of which cloud is an important enabling technology, and allows for the large-scale transformation of the network market, which is projected to reach $75 billion by 2026. Cloud migration, private or cloud, and technologies such as OpenRAN and edge computing are areas in which there are new innovations and offers new chances for developing value and new ways of using these technologies in industry. This theme includes an Event Theme Partner, which in 2022 was Kyndryl.
This theme works to explore how 5G will be capable of changing the world, especially as that refers to how 5G will be deployed and how its deployments may and can shape the growth of 5G technologies. The theme explores the use of 5G in industry, such as healthcare, automotive, aviation, and manufacturing; as well as what the change from 5G to 6G will look like, and sustainability and partnerships in these areas. This theme includes an Event Theme Partner, which in 2022 was Salesforce.
This theme explores how, with over 40 billion devices, the growing suite of connected devices and smart technologies are changing the way users interact with their physical environments, and offers a new way to reimagine and transform those physical spaces. The topics explored in this theme include smart cities and industry adoption; drones and devices; and people, data, and processes.
The FinTech theme explores the role the mobile ecosystem plays in the development and use of financial technology, especially as this technology offers a chance to reduce barriers to those outside of traditional banking and financial systems, and gives users new ways to interact with financial systems and technology. The FinTech category includes innovations in the intersection of FinTech and mobile technology, including topics such as identity and security, payment innovations, and the metaverse.
This theme explores the impact of artificial intelligence in networks and society and mobile technology, especially as global investment is set to top £170 billion by 2025 as a driver of new forms of industry and innovation. This further delves into the collaboration necessary to developing new industry innovations, such as quantum computing and robotics.
The theme of Tech Horizon looks at industry verticals experiencing mobile technology growth, such as healthcare, automotive, and drones. And it looks at how mobile technology is transforming those and other industries and offers a chance to change areas such as climate and diversity, homes and cities, and services. Other topics in this theme include creative technology and diversity for technology.
The MWC also focuses on digital advancement in society to help improve people's lives through digital innovation. This includes a focus on the acceleration of innovation through digital entrepreneurship, the digital transformation of industries, the rise of new generations and professionals and related digital talent, and a reflection of the impact of technology on societies. This was developed in part with Mobile World Capital, which hosts MWC, and founded 4 Years From Now (4YFN), which presents technology developed by startups at MWC.
These goals are similar to the three pillars of parent organization GSMA, which include industry services and solutions, connectivity for good, and outreach. Industry services and solutions is defined as the underpinning technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and which GSMA works to develop focus areas in such as 5G, Mobile IoT, fraud and security, and the tools and technologies to potentially solve those problems.
Connectivity for good refers the engagement of members, governments, and civil society to advance positive policy and spectrum outcomes, facilitate digital innovation in order to reduce inequalities through the world, and solve the problems such as digital inclusion, climate change, and sustainability. And outreach refers to the efforts to events, such as MWC Barcelona, which are used to bring industry organizations and experts together to discuss these issues and develop solutions to these issues.
Developed in collaboration with Mobile World Capital, 4FYN (4 Years From Now) is a startup business platform in which these businesses can present at MWC events. The goal of this event is to support startups, investors, and companies during the exhibition. This includes curated programs to highlight startups and innovations in high growth verticals or strategic industries, such as digital health, frontier technology, fintech, sports technology, investors, communities, and diversity for technology.
Other confirmed sponsors for 4FYN in 2022 include Sabadell BStartup, Ajuntment de Barcelona, Accio, Government of Catalonia, and the Government of Spain.
To help exhibiting companies, investors, and companies during the exhibition, MWC offers a Communities Club for 4FYN, which is designed for projects and companies working to support entrepreneurship and innovations, specifically for technology hubs, accelerators and incubators, technology events, institutions, co-working spaces, and universities. And it offers these different companies and projects a chance to network and connect with each other.
Similar to the Community Club, the 4FYN Investors Club is an investors-only club in which investors are given a chance to access quality deal flow and co-investment opportunities. MWC boasts over 950 international investors at their conferences brought together through the Investors Club to help funds, business angels, and CVCs connect to their peers and discover new trends.
As part of the 4FYN program, it offers the 4FYN Awards, a global startup competition that works to find the best digital startups globally. During the MWC exhibition, the startups are recognized and given the award during the event. The event is judged by a panel of ten judges, which change each year, and is composed of members from different global ventures capital firms, industry advisors, and angel investors.
In 2022, the MWC runs from February 28 to March 3, with an expected over 1,000 exhibitors attending, representing organizations from around 140 countries. The event, taking place in Barcelona, is expected to take place in person, with MWC taking all the measures in accordance with health authorities and medical partners to keep attendees and exhibitors safe. Exhibitors in 2022 include Parallel Wireless, Rohde & Schwarz, Ericsson, CSG, Sk Telecom, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Nokia, Samsung, Verizon, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, Netcracker, Vodafone, and Orange.
