Mobile World Congress: Cell phone fair starts despite wave of rejections

For years, the Mobile World Congress was a must for the mobile phone industry. After the cancellation last year, it will take place this time – although many industry greats are not coming. Does the fair still have a future?

The Mobile World Congress made headlines again this year: with big names – unfortunately only because they canceled their participation. It all started in March with Ericsson, Nokia and Sony. After that, the list of rejections got longer and longer and longer: Google, Ciscom, Qualcomm, Oracle, DJi, Intel, Samsung, Lenovo, Deutsche Telekom – and the list does not end there.

But the GSMA, the industrial association of GSM mobile phone providers, is pulling through the trade fair this time after it was canceled at short notice in 2020 due to Corona.

Organizer is satisfied

GSMA boss John Hoffman compared himself to a party host on regional TV3. “You take care of the music, the catering and the hall; you decorate everything, send out the invitations and hope that someone will come,” he said. “We used to be sure that people would come, not this time.”

But now you’re very happy with the response, he wants to say – but realizes that it doesn’t sound appropriately great. So he is “incredibly” satisfied.

Corona test as an entry requirement

The decoration at the entrance to the fair in Barcelona looks a bit like the Corona test center. Or rather: the entrance is a test center. Every 72 hours, participants and guests need a fresh test to get in. The GSMA has repeatedly emphasized in advance that everything is safe despite the pandemic. “We wouldn’t even try to organize the event if we were concerned about the safety of the participants,” says Hoffman.

However, various industry giants obviously had and still have concerns. The visitors probably too. The GSMA itself only expects a third of the around 100,000 visitors from pre-Corona times. Many journalists from the specialist portals also stay at home and only follow the trade fair online. It should take place as a hybrid event. Much content will be streamed or even intended to be interactive.

Musk performance as a highlight

One of the few highlights, at least on paper, should be Elon Musk’s appearance planned for tomorrow.

You need reasons to think life is great, said Musk at the presentation of the Axel Springer Awards, instead of thinking about problems in the morning. Musk will talk about his not entirely uncontroversial Starlink satellite network for internet access from orbit – and what role 5G could play there in the last mile. This also gives some people headaches because of the 10,000 satellites that are supposed to be launched into orbit.

Little spectacular for consumers

Most observers expect few highlights for end users. After all, Samsung will introduce a new Smartwatch – the first that no longer relies on Samsung’s own operating system, but on Google’s Wear OS. Not in Barcelona, ​​however, but online.

For years, new smartphones have been presented primarily by the big players outside of the MWC, where the scramble for media attention has become too great.

GSMA boss Hoffman says he is often asked when the fair is a success. “If we unlock the doors and people come – that is success,” says Hoffmann, because it shows “that we will not let Covid get us down”.

Contract with Barcelona extended

The GSMA has extended the contract with Barcelona until 2024. For the city, the fair has so far not only been a matter of prestige. Before Corona, it was also an economic factor. As a result of the cancellation last year, half a billion euros in added value were lost, according to estimates. It is uncertain how much it will be worth this year.