MWC Barcelona 2022 – here we come!

And the big preparations this week are for… MWC Barcelona 2022. 2022’s Mobile World Congress runs from the 28th February through to the 3rd March, and promises to be bigger and better than ever.  

Last year was a bit of a deflated balloon, with 2020 cancelled entirely. So, it’s a brilliant feeling to be able to wander the streets of that most wow-some of Spanish cities while catching up with old mates as well as forging new business relationships, and gathering a sackful of ideas to take home – with a bottle or 10 of Rioja Gran Reserva, natch. 

So, with only a week to go, we thought it would be a good idea to give the MWC 2022 a bit of an introduction, and highlight what the main themes are for all attendees.  

Exhibitor attendance is almost 100%, and so far, only Lenovo have replaced their physical presence in favour of digital. Sony and Asus won’t be attending at all, but a spokesperson for the GSMA told TechRadar that the companies haven’t exhibited since 2019 and 2018, respectively, “due to strategic business reasons”. To be discussed after sangria number three.  

Amongst the heavy hitters that are going to be very present are Meta, Orange, Huawei, and Samsung. They each have multiple stands which will keep you wowed and entertained for hours.  

This year’s keynote speakers are an impressive who’s who of leading international mobile giants. If anyone knows what’s in the pipeline for our industry, it’s these success stories.  

Amongst their own announcements, they’ll be discussing the key themes of the show this year. And for your pleasure, here they are: 

The overall umbrella theme is Connectivity Unleashed. This then covers these sub categories:  

1.  5G Connect 

This theme will explore what tomorrow’s world looks like with 5G use cases shaping its growth. 

1. Advancing AI 

With global investment set to top £170 billion by 2025, the transformative impact of AI in networks and society is huge, and we’re still just scratching the surface. 

1. Cloudnet 

Networks continue to adapt in order to support service delivery. This is important today as  cloud is seen as a key enabler of large-scale transformation, with the market projected to reach $75 billion by 2026.  

1. FinTech 

The mobile ecosystem is the heartbeat of fintech, as technology continues to reduce barriers  and enable new innovations. 

1.  Internet of Everything 

With over 40 billion devices, the growing suite of connected devices and smart technologies offers a new means to reimagine and transform physical spaces. 

1. Tech Horizon 

The tech horizon theme aims to explore how mobile is transforming our future with innovations that go beyond the industry and deliver purpose.  

We don’t need to look into our crystal balls to predict that MWC Barcelona 2022 is going to give us all plenty to chew over.  

Until then, adiós!