Delegate numbers at Mobile World Congress (MWC), one of the
largest association gatherings in the world, hit six-figures for the first time
since the pandemic last week.
More than 101,000 delegates from 205 countries and territories
swarmed on Gran Via showgrounds in Barcelona for the annual mega event - a 19 per
cent increase on 2023.
In 2019, the show welcomed a record 109,000 attendees. The
2020 edition was one of the first high-profile business events to be cancelled due
to the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19.
It returned to in-person in 2021, with 20,000 visitors. The
following year the event attracted 60,000 in-person visitors and last year
85,000 people attended the show physically.
Some 2,700 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners, attended the
show, run by the GSM Association, a lobby organisation that represents the
interests of mobile network operators.
And a greater push for diversity, meant 40 per cent of the 1,100
speakers were women.
The attendees were a highly qualified group, with 51 per
cent at the director level and above, of which 21% were C-Suite executives.
There were also 26 per cent female attendees. Over 2,600 journalists and
industry analysts from around the world covered the event.
Catalan companies benefit
The 107 Catalan companies, technology centers, entities, and
start-ups that participated in MWC - and 4YFN through the spaces provided by
the Government of Catalonia expect to generate a business volume of 18.4
million euros in the next 12 months thanks to the meetings and visits that took
place during the congress, according to data from ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade &
Investment -the Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Department of
Business and Labour.
Around 12 per cent of the Catalan companies have already reached an
agreement during the congress, and these data are not definitive since
companies can reach new agreements in the upcoming months. During the four days
of the event, these companies held 3,179 meetings and visits, 44 per cent of which were
conducted with foreign professionals.
In fact, according to the Digital Policy Division, a total
of 24,880 people passed through the Catalan pavilions at MWC and 4YFN. This is
the highest figure on record and shows that one in four congress attendees
visited the Catalonia's spaces.
These figures highlight the importance of MWC Barcelona as a
platform for showcasing innovative ideas and technology from Catalonia to a
global audience.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, said: “MWC Barcelona has once
again delivered four exceptional days of debate, thought leadership,
inspiration, and deal-making. Barcelona has delivered again!”
Mats Granryd, director general, GSMA, added: “This event
provides a glimpse into the future. It demonstrates how AI, 5G, and APIs are
unlocking new possibilities, thanks to collaborative initiatives like GSMA Open
Gateway.”
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
