By Kester Omu
Ahead of this year’s Mobile World Congress scheduled to hold between 26 February – 1 March 2018 at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, the organizer of the annual event, GSMA has confirmed that the Chairman of the FCC Ajit Pai and President of World Bank Dr. Jim Yong Kim are among the keynote speakers.
“We have an amazing show lined up for 2018, across the conference, the exhibition and the many programmes and events that comprise Mobile World Congress,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. “Attendees will have the opportunity to experience many new elements this year, most notably the hospitality and networking areas in the new South Village at Fira Gran Via. We’re looking forward to showcasing how mobile is creating a better future for all.”
Other confirmed keynote speakers that would be representing organisations spanning the broad mobile ecosystem, as well as government and the development community are Brigitte Baumann, Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Go Beyond Early Stage Investing; Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director, Hyperledger; Ricardo Antonio Rosselló Nevares, Governor, Puerto Rico; Marie Ehrling, Chair of the Board, Telia Group and Chairwoman, Securitas; Alastair MacLeod, CEO, Teralytics; Kathy Calvin, President and CEO, United Nations Foundation.
New for the 2018 programme, the Women4Tech keynote will be held on Thursday, 1 March, featuring speakers including Emma McGuigan, Group Technology Officer at Accenture, Berit Svendson, CEO of Telenor Norway and Susana Balbo, Congresswoman and Chair, W20 Group Argentina. The session will put a spotlight on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the communications industry and more broadly in society. Other Mobile World Congress keynote sessions will explore topics including content and media, the digital economy, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, mobile operator strategies, smart services, and sustainability, among others. For more information on the Mobile World Congress conference, visit: www.mobileworldcongress.com/conference-programmes/agenda/.
The GSMA has expanded the footprint of Mobile World Congress to include the South Village, located at the South Entrance of Fira Gran Via. This new outdoor hospitality and networking area serves as a vibrant welcoming point for Mobile World Congress, while offering additional meeting facilities for exhibitors and casual seating for attendees. Additionally, a second Meet & Eat venue will be located adjacent to the South Village, with food stands featuring local cuisine. For more information on the exhibition, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/exhibition/.
Innovation City 2018 to Showcase 5G, AI, Drones, IoT
In the GSMA Innovation City, visitors will experience how mobile-connected products and services are creating a better future for citizens and businesses around the world, in diverse areas such as home, automotive, health, agriculture, utilities, industrial and more. The City will feature leading-edge demonstrations of technologies including 5G, artificial intelligence, drones and the Internet of Things, among many others. Innovation City partners including Cisco IoT, Huawei, KT Corporation, Sierra Wireless and Turkcell, alongside GSMA programmes including Future Networks, Identity, Industry Purpose and Internet of Things, will showcase how mobile is positively impacting the lives of billions of people around the world. For more information, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/exhibition/gsma-innovation-city/.
New Developments in Women4Tech
In addition to the Women4Tech Keynote, the Women4Tech Summit taking place on Thursday, 1 March will examine a range of topics, from equality and career development to mentoring and education, from entrepreneurship to communication. The Women4Tech Summit will feature speakers from leading companies including AT&T, Cisco, Deloitte Digital, EY, Facebook, Qualcomm, Syniverse, Telefónica, Verizon and many others. At 4YFN, Women4Tech will host a diversity panel on Tuesday, 27 February and an interactive workshop focusing on female leadership for startups on Wednesday, 28 February. For more information on Women4Tech, visit www.mobileworldcongress.com/experiences/gsma-women4tech/.
The Mobile World Congress is the cornerstone of the Mobile World Capital, which will be hosted in Barcelona through 2023. The Mobile World Capital encompasses programmes and activities that span the entire year and will benefit not only the citizens of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, but also the worldwide mobile industry. For more information on the Mobile World Capital, visit www.mobileworldcapital.com.