The most-awaited Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2021 is now back physically at Fira Gran Via, Bracelona. Running from June 28-July 1, the four-day event is filled with inspiring speakers, lively debates and latest technology trends that embody MWC 2021’s key theme ‘Connected Impact.’
Sessions, startups, innovators, telecom industry leaders, and professionals come together to cover topics connected to connectivity, connected industry, artificial intelligence (AI), startup innovation, future society, creative technology, and customer experience.
In particular, during the day 1 of the congress, keynotes entitled Connected World and Future is Digital are delivered during the first half of the day where in industry leaders shared the importance of connectivity as it become a key driver of economic recovery which is set to drive innovation further and deliver a proliferation of digital services across all industries. Moreover, digital technologies have become a necessity as most industries shift to digital over the last twelve months, majorly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the digital transformation has powered a range of new products and services.
"We are back to business, we are back to Barcelona, we are back together," Mats Granryd, director general of the industry association that stages the congress, the GSMA, said in an opening address. Being one of the first big technology conferences staged in Europe since the start of the pandemic, strict precautionary measures have been set into place for the participants.
Participants will only get their digital badges activated by uploading a negative test result which is valid for less than 72 hours alongside signing a daily health declaration. Furthermore, once inside they must wear medical-grade FFP2 face masks at all times and follow a one-way walking system.
Due to the restrictions indicted by the pandemic, organizers expect 30,000-35,000 people to attend on-site. The congress occupies just three halls of within the venue this year, with more spaces allotted in between booths than in previous years.
stc, Huawei, Orange, and Telefonica are among the telecom players with massive booths in the event.
