Mobile World Congress (MWC22) has opened its doors this week at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona.
With the theme, Connectivity Unleashed, the event is designed to reflect a new era of connectivity and collaboration across the mobile industry.
Opening MWC22 Barcelona with a keynote address, Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA, said, “We are delighted to see vibrancy return to Barcelona this year as we convene, collaborate and do business. This edition of MWC provides a collective opportunity to showcase how the digital ecosystem transforms lives and supports global recovery through the power of mobile technology.”
MWC22 showcases the latest mobile technologies and explore innovations that will shape industry and society. The event also features exceptional speakers lined up, product launches, the launch of the GSMA’s Global Mobile Economy Report 2022, and the all-new Industry City.
“The doors are now open! Our attendees will experience more than 1500 exhibitors and have access to more than 1000 speakers, plus entrepreneurs, rebels, and people doing the extraordinary,” said John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA. “We are on a journey to digital everything, and MWC22 is the place to be to experience what that means.”
For the first time at MWC, live universal sign language interpretation (SLI) will be provided at all keynotes, Diversity4Tech sessions, and the Mobile for Development (M4D) session ‘Reaching Underserved Population Segments’ at 4YFN (Four Years From Now), the GSMA’s start-up and innovation event. The SLI will be provided in person by partner DeafTawk.
Connectivity opportunities and challenges
MWC22 saw the launch of the Global Mobile Economy Report, which highlighted the continued momentum in 5G adoption.
According to the report, the total number of 5G connections is expected to reach 1 billion in 2022, as usage grows rapidly in pioneer markets.
It also shed light on the mobile industry’s instrumental role in extending connectivity to people worldwide. In the last decade, network infrastructure investment by operators shrunk the coverage gap from a third of the global population to just six percent but there is more to be done.
The report also revealed that the adoption of mobile internet services has not kept pace with the expansion of network coverage.
There are still 3.2 billion people or 41 percent of the global population who are not using the mobile internet, despite living within the footprint of a mobile broadband network.
The reasons for this usage gap vary by region and include lack of affordability and skills. These barriers to mobile internet adoption impact the most vulnerable segments of the population, including women, the elderly, people in rural areas, and persons with disabilities.
The report also highlighted that in three years, 5G will account for around a quarter of total mobile connections. This means that more than two in five people worldwide will live within reach of a 5G network.
It also predicted that mobile technologies and services will generate $5 trillion in economic value by 2025.
The report also emphasised the vital role that mobile technology will play in accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of the UN’s deadline in 2030. These include increasing access to education, healthcare and addressing poverty and inequality.
