The 2016 GSMA Mobile World Congress (MWC16), the mobile industry’s most important annual event, will be held in Barcelona on 22 -25 February. The theme of the event, held at the Fira Gran Via, will be Mobile is Everything. Last year, the four-day Congress attracted more than 93,000 visitors from over 200 countries to discuss key industry trends.
The Ministerial Programme
Alongside the Congress, the GSMA’s Government and Regulatory Affairs team will host the annual Ministerial Programme around the theme of Connecting Everyone and Everything to a Better Future.
Many telecoms ministers and regulators from Europe will also participate in the four-day programme, that will bring together the world’s most influential telecommunications leaders to address the most pressing issues affecting the future of the mobile industry.
EU institutions delegation at MWC16
High level representatives of the European institutions attend the Mobile World Congress each year, giving keynote presentations, holding press conferences, visiting stands, and engaging in bilateral and roundtable discussions.
This year, the Congress will welcome both Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Oettinger, a delegation of 10 Members of the European Parliament and many officials from the European Commission. For the second time, the Commission will also have its own stand in the Exhibition area.
Vice-President Ansip will give a keynote speech and participate in a panel discussion at the Mobile World Summit’s Mobile as the Foundation for Digital Identity session. He will also take part in various roundtable discussions and meetings and visit company stands, including a tour of the GSMA Innovation City.
Commissioner Oettinger will host a roundtable bringing together the telecoms and automotive sector to discuss connected cars. He will also deliver a keynote speech in the main MWC conference on 5G: creating value for industry verticals and visit several stands in the exhibition area.
The delegation of MEPs will attend a co-hosted EIF-GSMA roundtable on the Internet of Things, make a tour of the exhibition area (including a visit to the App Planet and the GSMA Innovation City). MEP Pilar del Castillo will also speak in the 5G: creating value for consumers session of the main conference programme.
Moreover, Roberto Viola, Director General – DG CONNECT, and Paul Timmers, Director of the Sustainable & Secure Society – DG CONNECT, will participate in two sessions within the Ministerial Programme, respectively: Framework review – Regulatory Modernisation in Europe and Opportunities and challenges presented by the growing adoption of mobile identity solutions.