The 2016 GSMA Mobile World Congress, the mobile industry’s most important annual event, will be held in Barcelona on 22 -25 February 2016. 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 attended by government delegations and international organisations from across the world. The theme of the 2016 Ministerial Programme is Connecting Everyone and Everything to a Better Future, underscoring the pivotal role that mobile technology plays in connecting people and accelerating social and economic progress. Tailored for governments, regulators and industry leaders, the four-day programme is designed to enable debate, discussion and knowledge sharing. A rich line-up of sessions and interactive discussions will explore the potential of mobile technologies and services:
- The Mobile World Summit is the premier event at the Mobile World Congress 2016. This exclusive meeting, which will be held on Monday 22 February, is designed to establish a dialogue between ecosystem leaders and policymakers on the mobile industry’s priorities and future direction. This year’s Summit will be open to C-level representatives from GSMA member and associate member organisations, as well as all Ministerial Programme attendees.
- A series of six leadership workshops will explore specific topics, including mobile identity, the Internet of Things, future regulatory paradigms and expanding connectivity for women.
- A four-part series of regional summits will highlight shared challenges and objectives in Asia Pacific, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa.
- The Government Excellence Awards will recognise outstanding government policy in two areas: Spectrum for Mobile Broadband and the Government Leadership Award.
- Additionally, after a very successful debut in 2015, the Ministerial Programme will again offer attendees the opportunity to attend special regulatory training on Thursday 25 February. GSMA experts will present two-hour ‘taster’ courses on the most pressing regulatory issues.
The Innovation City
The GSMA Innovation City, a major highlight of the Mobile World Congress exhibition in Barcelona each February, returns in 2016. This showcase enables attendees to experience new and innovative connected solutions in real-world scenarios, including retail and banking, industry, health, automotive and transport. Life-size models of urban infrastructure and services will demonstrate how mobile-connected products and services can improve the daily lives of citizens and businesses globally.
4 Years from Now
Presented by Mobile World Capital Barcelona and located at Fira Montjuic, the 4 Years from Now programme will bring together entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas on a variety of topics related to start-ups and innovation.