This year, the Mobile World Congress attracted more than 100,000 visitors and government delegations from over 200 countries to discuss key industry trends and explore the innovations on show from more than 2,000 exhibitors. Numerous EU officials attended the event in Barcelona, contributed to the discussions and enriched the debate on the future of digital communications.
While not being able to recreate the full Mobile World Congress experience in Brussels, GSMA Europe gave an insight into what went on and shared key trends and developments through A Taste of Mobile World Congress 2016, held on 6 April in Brussels. The audience, composed of high-level representatives of the EU institutions and industry experts, benefitted from listening to the insights of policy makers and leaders who attended this year’s Congress.
The event kicked off with a welcome message from Afke Schaart, Vice-President Europe, GSMA, and continued with a presentation by Mark Giles, Lead Analyst, Strategy, GSMA, who shared some insights on the Congress, its history, its achievements and some of the new technologies showcased in the latest edition, with particular focus on 5G, the Internet of Things and virtual reality, while David Swift, Marketing Manager, GSMA, introduced the GSMA Innovation City.
Mario Campolargo, Director Net Futures, DG CNECT – European Commission, then presented the European Commission’s activities at the Congress, followed by Michał Boni, Member of the European Parliament, who shared his experience as an Institutional VIP guest.
The moderator, Philippe Defraigne, Director of Cullen International, encouraged participants to express their views on the key conference theme: Mobile is Everything. Discussions focused on the importance of the Digital Single Market in the light of the digital revolution, and the crucial role of mobile.