Mobile World Congress gears up for 20th anniversary in Barcelona

Mobile World Congress (MWC) is set to bring over 100,000 visitors from 250 countries to Barcelona from March 2–5, marking the 20th anniversary of the world's largest mobile technology fair.

The event will host 2,900 companies and is expected to generate €585 million in economic impact.

John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, expressed his commitment to the city in an interview with the Catalan News Agency (ACN), saying, "We did not expect to be here for 20 years, but now I expect to be here for another 20."

The congress comes ahead of the Catalan Parliament's planned vote to raise the tourist tax. Hoffman acknowledged the need to offset the impact of visitors but urged caution "to make sure that we recognize that we don't get that too high, because at some point people will say the hassle factor, the cost factor, isn't worth it." 

Hoffman also reaffirmed Barcelona's ability to host a major international event despite the recent transport disruptions affecting the Rodalies rail service and the AP-7 motorway.

"There is no evidence to suggest people are worried," he said, adding that the city can handle an event of this scale.

Hoffman also pointed out that the MWC contract with Barcelona runs until 2030 and renews annually thereafter unless either party decides otherwise.

Regarding the technology set to dominate the congress – artificial intelligence – he said it has a "similar capacity" for social impact as the telephone.

"The smartphone, the mobile phone, and even the earliest telephones really changed society, changed business, changed the way people live, work, and interact," he reflected.