Mobile World Congress 2023 surpassed expectations, closing on a Thursday with more than 88,500 attendees from 202 countries, a figure confirmed by GSMA, the global advocate for the mobile industry and organizer of the event. “Mobile is back with force,” stated the executive director, John Hoffman.
In a statement, GSMA welcomed the turnout, which exceeded its January projection of 80,000 attendees, marking what the organization described as the event’s resurgence. At the start of the year, GSMA had projected an economic impact of 350 million euros and the creation of 7,400 jobs, and officials confirmed that the actual impact would likely exceed those estimates.
The most curious innovations to be seen at Mobile World Congress 2023
Roger Torrent, Minister of Commerce, emphasized that this year’s momentum signaled recovery and reinforced the country’s commitment to being a technological benchmark. Constanti Serrallonga, Managing Director of Fira de Barcelona, called Mobil 2023 a success, noting that half of the participants were senior executives and key decision-makers in the industry. Serrallonga also reminded everyone of the worker who lost his life during the event setup and suggested that the fair must come back strong while honoring that memory.
The world’s largest congress, after four days of exhibitions and business meetings, brought the global mobile community to Barcelona and showcased a strong return to pre-pandemic dynamics in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. While turnout did not reach the 2019 peak of 190,000 or the 2017 level of 108,000, the edition was widely perceived as a positive step forward for the sector.
This edition also set several records. The ministerial program, focused on connecting governments worldwide, gathered 196 delegations, nearly 70 ministers, and more than 100 regulators from more than 150 countries. Participants reported strong business expectations, with activity surpassing even the 2019 high-water mark in several metrics.
The mobile ecosystem in focus
Back to normal
The Covid era was clearly behind the event, with a renewed sense of momentum permeating the halls. Officials echoed the sentiment that digital technologies continue to evolve and that MWC captured a fresh wave of excitement about what comes next.
The broader participation was helped by the gradual reopening of global markets, with notable presence from Chinese manufacturers expanding the show floor. Huawei, among others, returned in larger numbers, although travel normalization in Asia remains incomplete, suggesting continued growth in attendance for 2024.
future technologies
Speed became the central theme for Mobile World Congress 2023. The event highlighted technologies that drive a hyper-connected world, including 5G deployments and the exploration of 6G, the envisioned sixth generation of wireless communications promising even faster speeds and greater energy efficiency.
Increasing data capacity and reducing latency are expected to empower near real-time connectivity across industries, enabling artificial intelligence and immersive experiences like virtual reality to expand across sectors.
Growing the starter ecosystem
Mobile’s success also extended to the 4YFN space, which nurtures startups and emerging companies. About 260 Catalan ventures leveraged the global showcase to promote themselves and attract customers. Torrent noted that Catalan participants expect around 15 million euros in the coming years, underscoring how ventures born at MWC can positively impact the national economy.
GSMA reiterated its forward-looking stance and already scheduled the next Barcelona edition for February 26–29, 2024, signaling ongoing momentum for the event and the broader ecosystem in the region.