Mobile World Congress 2023: It's more than mobile

The mobile industry has come a long way in just over 40 years: from the first commercially available brick-like mobile phones of the 1980s, to the touchscreen smartphones of today.??

During that time, I’ve seen these advancements first-hand, as the previous Vice President of Telefonica (the parent company of the O2 mobile phone network), managing the launch of 2G and 3G mobile technologies in the UK, before joining the Department for Business and Trade as its first Chief Scientific Adviser in November 2017. ?

Concepts and products that only existed in sci-fi movies have now materialised in the palms of our hands.??

Whether it’s the automation capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and voice to data, or the intersection of traditional sectors like finance and tech – we have entered a new era of telecommunications innovation.?

And the UK has clear strengths and a strong appetite for supporting start-ups, scale-ups and international collaboration in this digital age. We are supporting over 100 UK-based companies at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in Barcelona.??

But, MWC 2023 – one of the world’s biggest annual trade events – is more than its name suggests. It is more than mobile, it is a Digital World Congress.?

And here are some examples of why:??

1. Mobile applications have expanded beyond telecommunications?

Financial services have embraced e-commerce and there’s now an abundance of fintech companies embracing mobile solutions.?

That includes EchoPay for Clover – one of this year’s UK exhibitors at MWC - which provides account-to-account payment solutions, enabling businesses to accept face-to-face open banking payments. EchoPay generates a QR code that a payer can scan via their mobile phone to pay.??

Voice to data traffic has also opened up new techniques, services and innovations such as voice biometrics – using a persona’s voice to authenticate an individual, in a similar way that fingerprints or facial recognition are used.??

Push to talk video is another example where mobile has evolved beyond wireless cellular phone services – think pushing the mute button in a Microsoft Teams meeting.?

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2. Businesses from all sectors increasingly want productivity and connectivity??

Network operations, billing, distribution and customer care are all using mobile automation for effective delivery and cost control.?

Another MWC UK exhibitor, SLA Digital, is a good example of this. The Northern Ireland business delivers mobile solutions aimed at increasing revenues. SLA works with major mobile operators, powering mobile revenues through carrier billing and mobile identity. Its clients include Google Pay, Vodafone, and Microsoft (just to name a few).?

Mobile, along with electronics design, influences and shapes many sectors beyond finance, including connected vehicles as well as energy and transport management.??

Some areas will continue to rise in prominence such as Internet of Things (IoT), AI, 6G and Quantum.?

Additionally, environmental, social, and corporate governance?(ESG) and UN Social Development Goals (SDGs) case studies at MWC 2023 will offer societal and inclusive case studies to learn from, in particular for applications related to connected learning and digital health. Recycling and green initiatives will also be covered in the MWC halls.??

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3. IoT is here to stay??

Connected objects are much more than cars, sensors and meters.??

This includes sectors like energy management – adding extra security and resilience along the way.??

Public and private networks will both be present at MWC 2023, backing the trend of more infrastructure sharing such as Cloud, Networks, Neutral hosts and Virtualised solutions and systems integrators will continually show where they can add value with key sectors.?

As internet applications move from video to streaming, Web 3.0 and the Metaverse continue to take off.?

And let’s not forget about the creative industries, with ever-growing interest in Web 3.0, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).???

Aircards, which will also be at MWC, is a shining example of the intersection between tech and creativity. The business uses web-based augmented reality and web-based virtual reality to create interactive experiences and has worked with some of the world’s biggest brands including Warner Bros and Pepsi.??

Property is another sector that has embraced AR and Urban XR is one company leading its adoption. Urban XR has paired its expertise in urban design and architecture with this technology, to produce feasibility and proof of concept studies to identify solutions to urban design problems.??

You can witness their solution in real life by watching their demo at the UK Pavilion – Hall 7 B41 – on Wednesday 1st March.??

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Find out for yourself: attend MWC 2023?

Based on current bookings, it looks like there will be over 2000 stands at MWC in Barcelona this year, with more than 80,000 registrations already. ?

More than 100 UK companies will be showcasing world-class examples of mobile’s capabilities in a digital world.??

Visit us at the UK Pavilion, Monday 27th February – Thursday 2nd March 2023 to discover the strengths of UK innovation, experience from a competitive 5G market, and some prospects for industry transformation to open networks and future proofing through mobile, WiFi and satellite combinations.?

Additionally, we’ll be hosting live demos and networking receptions. Find out more about the UK’s sessions and companies at MWC 2023 here at this webpage.??

I look forward to seeing you there.