{"id":45632,"date":"2026-01-05T14:31:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T14:31:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/?post_type=gsma_theme_events&#038;p=45632"},"modified":"2026-05-06T09:29:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T08:29:55","slug":"mwc-barcelona-2026-5g-future-summit","status":"publish","type":"gsma_theme_events","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/gsma_events\/mwc-barcelona-2026-5g-future-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"MWC Barcelona 2026 &#8211; 5G Future Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-mwc-barcelona-2026-5g-future-summit\">MWC Barcelona 2026 &#8211; 5G Future Summit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/gsma_resources\/mwc26-barcelona-5g-future-summit-on-demand\/\">Watch on demand<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Evolving the Intelligent Network<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mwcbarcelona.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MWC Barcelona 2026<\/a>, the flagship 5G Future Summit focuses on the transition of mobile networks from deployment-led infrastructure programmes to monetisable, intelligent platforms capable of sustaining long-term growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As 5G Standalone and 5G-Advanced move into scale, operators face a clear strategic inflection point: <strong>networks must evolve beyond connectivity delivery towards programmability, automation and service exposure<\/strong> if they are to unlock new enterprise value and justify continued investment. At the same time, AI-native network design and private 5G deployments are reshaping both operational models and customer expectations, accelerating the shift from static networks to software-defined, intent-driven systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This summit examines how monetisation is practically achieved across that journey, from enabling programmable capabilities through standardised APIs, to scaling differentiated services with 5G-Advanced, embedding AI to optimise performance and economics, and ensuring that today\u2019s architectural decisions align with the intelligent, open networks expected in the 6G era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through panel discussions, real-world case studies and technical insights, the summit will explore how operators are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Using <strong>GSMA Open Gateway<\/strong> and standardised APIs to expose network capabilities and enable repeatable B2B revenue models<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Translating <strong>5G Standalone <\/strong>and <strong>5G-Advanced<\/strong> capabilities into commercially viable, differentiated services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applying <strong>mobile AI<\/strong> to improve network efficiency, service quality and monetisation outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Making architecture and ecosystem choices today that protect <strong>future optionality <\/strong>as the industry evolves toward 6G<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Attendees will gain actionable insight into how successful operators are aligning <strong>technology evolution<\/strong>, <strong>ecosystem collaboration<\/strong> and <strong>commercial strategy<\/strong> to move beyond deployment milestones and build sustainable, future-ready network businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Session 1: Monetising Standalone Networks with Open APIs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Time:  15:00 &#8211; 15:50 (50 minutes)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Moderator: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/henrycalvert\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Henry Calvert<\/a>, Head of Networks, GSM<\/strong>A<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This session examines how standalone networks provide the architectural foundation for programmable networks and Open APIs, including GSMA Open Gateway. Explore how core-native capabilities such as network slicing, QoS control and exposure APIs enable secure B2B monetisation, accelerate ecosystem innovation, and reposition operators as platform-based service providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Session 2: <strong>From 5G-Advanced to 5G Commercialisation<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Time:  15:50 &#8211; 16:40 (50 minutes)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Moderator: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/barbarapareglio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barbara Pareglio<\/a>, Senior Technical Director, GSMA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This session examines how 5G-Advanced capabilities translate into commercially viable services. Industry experts will discuss network slicing, deterministic performance, automation and intent-based orchestration, highlighting practical pathways to scale deployment, justify investment, and deliver differentiated customer experiences across enterprise and consumer markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>15-minute intermission <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Session 3: <strong><strong>Mobile AI and Intelligent Networks<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Time:  16:55 &#8211; 17:45(50 minutes)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Moderator: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mkheirkhah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Morteza Kheirkhah<\/a>, Technical Director, GSMA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This session dives into the GSMA Mobile AI Community\u2019s work to accelerate AI adoption across mobile networks, covering both \u201cAI for Networks\u201d and \u201cNetworks for AI.\u201d Attendees will explore practical implementation challenges, high-value use-cases, and collaborative frameworks that embed AI into network operations and architecture to unlock new monetisation and enterprise value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Session 4: Intelligence in the Network: A Foundation for 6G<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Time:  17:45 &#8211; 18:35 (50 minutes)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Moderator: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mkheirkhah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Morteza Kheirkhah<\/a>, Technical Director, GSMA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This session examines how today\u2019s 5G Standalone and 5G-Advanced architecture decisions are shaping the foundation for future network evolution. As operators deploy cloud-native, service-based cores, open interfaces and AI-driven automation to monetise 5G, these same capabilities define readiness for intelligent, interoperable 6G networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speakers will discuss how embedding intelligence, programmability and openness into current networks helps operators avoid architectural lock-in, protect long-term investment value, and support emerging service demands across consumer and enterprise markets. The session will focus on practical alignment between near-term deployment choices and the architectural principles expected to underpin future mobile systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-thank-you-to-our-sponsors\">Thank you to our sponsors <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Platinum Sponsors:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/motive.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Motive<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techmahindra.com\/\">Tech Mahindra<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Gold Sponsor<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huawei.com\/uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.huawei.com\/en\/?ic_medium=direct&amp;ic_source=surlent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Huawei<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.qualcomm.com\/\">Qualcomm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"orgs\" id=\"orgs-0e7f201a\"  data-ids=\"42715, 45645, 38958, 35060\" data-display=\"\" data-show-names=\"false\"><\/div>\n        \n<script>\n    window.addEventListener(\"load\", function(){\n      const orgs_list = new Orgs_List();\n      orgs_list.init(\"orgs-0e7f201a\");\n    });\n<\/script>\n    \n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Speakers will be announced soon. Networking will take place after the Summit from 18:35 CET onwards at the GSMA Summit Stage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/gsma_resources\/mwc26-barcelona-5g-future-summit-on-demand\/\">Watch on demand<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MWC Barcelona 2026 &#8211; 5G Future Summit Evolving the Intelligent Network At MWC Barcelona 2026, the flagship 5G Future Summit focuses on the transition of mobile networks from deployment-led infrastructure programmes to monetisable, intelligent platforms capable of sustaining long-term growth. As 5G Standalone and 5G-Advanced move into scale, operators face a clear strategic inflection point: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":45634,"template":"","meta":{"start_timestamp":"1772463600","end_timestamp":"1772478000","image":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Event-email-banner-1200-x-500.png","json":{"gsma_event_day_start":"2026-03-02","gsma_event_day_end":"2026-03-02","gsma_event_time_start":"15:00","gsma_event_time_end":"19:00","gsma_event_timezone":"0","gsma_event_venue":"Fira Gran Via, Barcelona","gsma_event_location":"GSMA Summit Stage, Hall 6 ","gsma_event_map":"","gsma_event_registration":"","gsma_event_registration_fa":"","gsma_event_speakers":""}},"tags":[],"event_categories":[15455],"algolia_discover_state":[15332],"algolia_discover_topic":[15345],"algolia_discover_region":[],"algolia_discover_series":[],"class_list":["post-45632","gsma_theme_events","type-gsma_theme_events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","event_categories-mwc-barcelona","algolia_discover_state-show","algolia_discover_topic-mobile-networks-and-connectivity"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.7.1 (Yoast SEO v26.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>MWC Barcelona 2026 - 5G Future Summit - Networks<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/technologies\/networks\/gsma_events\/mwc-barcelona-2026-5g-future-summit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"MWC Barcelona 2026 - 5G Future Summit\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MWC Barcelona 2026 &#8211; 5G Future Summit Evolving the Intelligent Network At MWC Barcelona 2026, the flagship 5G Future Summit focuses on the transition of mobile networks from deployment-led infrastructure programmes to monetisable, intelligent platforms capable of sustaining long-term growth. 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