MWC25 Barcelona | Sports and Entertainment Summit On Demand - Networks

Monday March 31, 2025

MWC25 Barcelona | Sports and Entertainment Summit On Demand

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Session description

Explore the Future of Sports, Entertainment, and Gaming

The 2025 Sports and Entertainment Summit took place on 6 March at MWC Barcelona, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and experts to explore how mobile technology is transforming sports, entertainment, and gaming. From 5G connectivity to AI-driven insights, the summit showcased cutting-edge innovations reshaping fan engagement, venue experiences, and the future of entertainment.

To kick off the summit, we hosted the Connected Industries Networking Reception: Game-Changing Connectivity – NFL & F1 Innovations in Sports & Entertainment on 5 March. This exclusive event featured thought-provoking presentations from MatSing and Ericsson, followed by a Panel Discussion: Transforming F1 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya into a Testbed for Advanced Connectivity.

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Game-Changing Connectivity – NFL & F1 Innovations in Sports & Entertainment

Delivering Highest Capacity Connectivity in Sports & Entertainment Venues by Henri Benamou, Director, EMEA, MatSing

Make it Memorable – Capitalize on Elevated 5G Customer Experience by Marko Jovanovic, Head of Marketing, Strategy and Insights for Europe and Latam, Ericsson

Panel Discussion: Transforming F1 Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya into a Testbed for Advanced Connectivity moderated by Faisal Zia, Technical Director, GSMA Foundry, GSMA and joined by guest speakers; Eduard Martín, Chief Innovation Officer, Mobile World Capital, Ignasi Armengol, General Manager, Fira Circuit and Richard Cockle, Head of GSMA Foundry and Connected Industries, GSMA.

6 March 2025 – Agenda

AM Session

10:00 – 10:30 | Knowledge Partner, Accenture Panel Discussion: “The Future of D2C Fan Engagement“. Moderated by Tobias Sobania, Managing Director, Accenture
10:30 – 10:45 | Opening Remarks & Industry Insights: “Getting amongst it: Monetising sports and entertainment”.
Speaker: Tim Hatt, Head of Research, GSMAi
10:45 – 11:00 | Keynote: “Make it Memorable: Capitalize on Elevated 5G Customer Experience”.
Speaker: Marko Jovanovic, Head of Marketing, Strategy, and Insights for Europe and Latam, Ericsson
11:00 – 11:30 | Panel Discussion: “How Mobile Tech is Transforming the Sport and Entertainment Vertical”. Moderated by Roy Chua, Founder and Principal, AvidThink

PM Session

12:30 – 12:50 | Keynote: “Mobile Fan Experience: Turning Passion into Business Intelligence”.
Speaker: Vladimir Liulka, Founder & CEO, Blocksport
12:50 – 13:20 | Panel Discussion: “Immersive and Emerging Technologies Reshaping the Sports and Entertainment Landscape”. Moderated by Faisal Zia, Technical Director, GSMA Foundry, GSMA
13:20 – 13:50 | Panel Discussion: “Bundling Is The Game – How Telcos Power Sports & Entertainment Subscriptions”. Moderated by Anil Malhotra, Chief Marketing Officer & Co-Founder, Bango
13:50 | Closing Remarks by Faisal Zia
14:00 | Event Close

Watch on-demand

The Future of D2C Fan Engagement

Discover how data-driven personalization and innovative partnerships are transforming fan experiences in sports and entertainment. Learn how leading organizations keep fans engaged on and off the field and navigate the evolving D2C landscape.

How Mobile Tech is Transforming the Sport and Entertainment Vertical

The morning session at the 2025 Sports and Entertainment Summit explored how mobile innovation is transforming the industry. Tim Hatt, Head of Research at GSMAi, shared key industry insights, followed by a keynote from Marko Jovanovic, Head of Marketing, Strategy & Insights at Ericsson, on cutting-edge connectivity. A panel discussion, moderated by Roy Chua (AvidThink), featured insights from Leo Matytsine (MatSing), Tuula Tomminen (Nokia), and Mahmoud ElSakhawy (Rakuten Mobile) on 5G, AI, and data-driven strategies shaping the future of fan engagement.

Four people are seated on stage in a panel discussion at the MWC25 Sports and Entertainment Summit. They sit in modern chairs against a backdrop showcasing names and logos. The person on the far right gestures animatedly, while bottles of water rest on the floor at this professional conference.

Read this insightful article by Roy Chua, Founder and Principal of AvidThink, titled “Mobile Technology Transforming the Sports and Entertainment Landscape: Insights from MWC 2025”.

Roy shares his expert take on how mobile innovation is reshaping fan experiences and redefining the future of entertainment. Don’t miss his perspective on where the industry is headed!

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Keynote: "Make it Memorable: Capitalize on Elevated 5G Customer Experience".
Speaker: Marko Jovanovic, Head of Marketing, Strategy, and Insights for Europe and Latam, Ericsson

Make It Memorable: Capitalize on Elevated 5G Customer Experience,
Marko Jovanovic, Ericsson

Opening Remarks & Industry Insights: "Getting amongst it: Monetising sports and entertainment".
Speaker: Tim Hatt, Head of Research, GSMAi

Getting Amongst It: Monetising Sports and Entertainment, Tim Hatt, GSMAi

Immersive Experiences – The Convergence of Sports, Entertainment and Gaming

The afternoon session explored how XR, AI, cloud gaming, and cross-platform experiences are transforming fan engagement across sports, entertainment, and gaming. Vladimir Liulka, CEO and Founder of Blocksport shared insights on mobile Superapps and data-driven fan engagement, followed by the panel “Immersive and Emerging Technologies Reshaping the Sports and Entertainment Landscape,” moderated by Faisal Zia (GSMA). Panellists Marko Jovanovic (Ericsson), Samir Ceric (Blocksport), and Barry Dubovsky (Mondia) discussed how innovation is shaping the future of fan experiences. The session closed with insights on telco-driven sports and entertainment subscriptions.

A person in a gray blazer and white shirt speaks on stage at the GSMA Connected Industries event. They stand at a podium with the event name, addressing the audience. The backdrop is blue with logos for iFlytek and ManageEngine, and text reading "Fintech and Mobile Commerce.

Make It Memorable: Capitalize on Elevated 5G Customer Experience,
Vladimir Liulka, Blocksport

Bundling Is The Game – How Telcos Power Sports & Entertainment Subscriptions

As streaming giants like Amazon Prime Video and YouTube invest in live sports, the intersection of mobile technology, sports, and entertainment is reshaping how fans access their favourite content. From Champions League to NFL Thursday Night Football, bundling is emerging as a key strategy, with telcos playing a pivotal role in delivering these experiences.
Join Bango, Amazon, and YouTube to explore exclusive first-party data on subscribers, revealing spending behaviours, subscription patterns, and the growing importance of telco channels in driving reach and retention. This session dives into the transformative power of telco-led bundling and its impact on the future of sports and entertainment.

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MWC25 Sports and Entertainment Summit

MWC25 Sports and Entertainment Summit Accenture

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