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GSMA Launches 2017 Mobile World Congress

Upcoming Edition Set to Surpass 2016 Attendance, Exhibitor Marks

LONDON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — August 2, 2016 — The GSMA today announced the first details of the 2017 Mobile World Congress, including exhibitors, sponsors, programmes and activities taking place at the annual mobile industry event. Under the theme “Mobile: The Next Element”, Mobile World Congress will be held 27 February – 2 March 2017 at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, with events also taking place at Fira Montjuïc. The GSMA expects that more than 101,000 professionals from across the mobile industry and adjacent industry sectors will attend Mobile World Congress 2017.

“Over the past three decades, mobile has evolved from an emerging communications technology to a phenomenon that is now at the foundation of everything we do. It has inextricably changed how we communicate, interact, work and play as individuals, and it’s transforming entire industries, bringing new levels of productivity and efficiency to enterprises,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. “The 2017 edition of Mobile World Congress will highlight just how elemental mobile has become in our everyday lives and the positive impact it is having for billions of people around the world.”

Exhibition Puts Spotlight on Innovation

As always, the exhibition at Mobile World Congress brings together the leading players from across the mobile ecosystem, as well as adjacent industry sectors such as automotive and consumer electronics, putting the spotlight on the innovative products, services and technologies that are shaping the mobile landscape. More than 2,200 companies will exhibit at Mobile World Congress 2017, including major brands such as AOL, Cisco Systems, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Ford, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HTC, Huawei, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, NEC, Nokia Solutions and Networks, Oracle, Orange, Philips Lighting, Qualcomm Incorporated, Samsung Electronics, SAP, Sony Mobile, Telefónica, Vodafone, Volkswagen and ZTE, among others.

Relocated to Hall 4, the GSMA Innovation City will again be a highlight of the Mobile World Congress exhibition, with confirmed partners including AT&T, Cisco Jasper, KT Corporation and Sierra Wireless. In a unique space spanning nearly 2,000 square metres, attendees will immerse themselves in technology-led experiences that illustrate how mobile-connected products and services are improving the daily lives of citizens and businesses. From healthcare to agriculture, home to office, and connected cars to global transport logistics, the Innovation City provides key insights on the future of mobility.

NEXTech: The New Mobile World Congress Destination

New for Mobile World Congress 2017, NEXTech in Hall 8.0 is one of the event’s most exciting destinations, with pavilions and experience zones showcasing cutting-edge technology trends, as well as theatres hosting a range of partner events and educational sessions. NEXTech Pavilions will bring together the companies leading innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, drones, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and virtual reality/augmented reality, among others. In the Drone Zone, attendees can learn about the latest developments in consumer and commercial drone technology, including live demonstrations in the “flying cage”, while the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Zone will be dedicated to the evolution and advancement of robot technology.

Attendees will also have the opportunity immerse themselves in a series of 360-degree experiences in the Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Zone or visit the IoT Pavilion to see how millions of “things” are getting connected, creating smart homes, smart cities and smart industries. Back for a second year, the Graphene Pavilion will showcase the impact of graphene on many of the building block components of the mobile industry, such as display, sensor and chip technologies, among others.

Partner Programmes and Power Hour sessions, developed by leading players from across the mobile ecosystem, provide invaluable learning opportunities for Mobile World Congress attendees. The first confirmed Partner Programmes include Adobe, Gionee Communication Equipment, Huawei, IBM, Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), McCann Worldgroup, MMS – Modern Marketing Summit (formally Mobile Media Summit), Phillips, Taiwan Excellence and Visa. ICAR is the first confirmed Power Hour Presenter.

For more information on the exhibition, including opportunities in NEXTech, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/exhibition/.

Mobile World Congress Conference Programme

The conference at Mobile World Congress will be held 27 February – 2 March and will explore topics such as connecting the unconnected, digital commerce, digital content, disruptive technologies, enterprise mobility, financial services, IoT and connected living, mobile identity and privacy, next-generation networks and security, among others. The Call for Papers for the Mobile World Congress conference is currently open and submissions will be accepted through 23:59 GMT on Friday, 16 September. For more information on the conference, including the Call for Papers, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/conference/.

Four Years From Now (4YFN), the global business platform for the growing community of technology startups promoted by Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the GSMA, is returning for its fourth year, with the programme taking place 27 February –1 March at Fira Montjuïc. The upcoming edition will be led once again by globally recognised experts in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation and will focus on connecting the entrepreneurial community through one-to-one investor meetings, pitching competitions, “pitch the press” sessions and networking activities. 4YFN will also include a range of conference sessions, workshops and interactive discussions, as well as exhibition.

MWC Tours: Maximising Attendance at Mobile World Congress

Building on the success of the inaugural programme in 2016, GSMA will again offer the MWC Tours, a series of topic and exhibition-focused tours to address the specific needs of different audiences at Mobile World Congress. The 2016 programme included tours that focused on specific technology areas such as 5G, the IoT and mobile media, as well as tours designed to help new Mobile World Congress attendees navigate the venue and identify the exhibits, activities and programmes that will meet their individual requirements. For more information on the MWC Tours programme, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/start-here/get-involved/.

World’s Largest Carbon Neutral Trade Show

In July, the 2016 Mobile World Congress was officially certified as carbon neutral and Mobile World Congress was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest carbon neutral trade show for the second year in a row. In 2017, the GSMA is focused on further reducing the environmental impact and carbon footprint of the event, offsetting any outstanding emissions as necessary. For more information, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/about/carbon-neutral/.

Get Involved at Mobile World Congress 2017

For more information on Mobile World Congress 2017, including how to attend, exhibit or sponsor, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com. Follow developments and updates on Mobile World Congress on Twitter @GSMA using #MWC17, on our LinkedIn Mobile World Congress page  https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsma-mobile-world-congress or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mobileworldcongress/. For additional information on GSMA social channels, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/about/contact/social-media/.

The Mobile World Congress is the cornerstone of the Mobile World Capital, which will be hosted in Barcelona through 2023. The Mobile World Capital encompasses programmes and activities that span the entire year and will benefit not only the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, but also the worldwide mobile industry. For more information on the Mobile World Capital, visit  www.mobileworldcapital.com.

-ENDS-

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with almost 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai and the Mobile 360 Series conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.


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