What Is MWC?
MWC, which stands for Mobile World Congress, is a major trade show that happens every year, focused on showing off major innovations and upcoming products in the telecommunications sector.
MWC is a fantastic time for smartphone enthusiasts like us to see some of the products our favorite manufacturers are coming up with, all in a single location. Sometimes, smartphone companies make major launches at MWC, too!
There are also sessions with great speakers discussing interesting mobile tech topics. You can think of it like CES, except limited to mobile phones and associated tech.
The event will also include mobile carriers and network infrastructure companies. Considering how much adoption is improving, it’s probably safe to expect to hear and see a lot about 5G.
Where Does MWC Take Place?
MWC is also called MWC Barcelona, and it’s not hard to imagine why. Since 2006, MWC has taken place in the city of Barcelona, Spain, and since 2013, MWC has made the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via its home.
Before then, it used to jump around to different cities, with Cannes, France hosting the event for ten years from 1996 to 2006, and cities like Lisbon, Belin, and Athens having had the privilege before that point. However, it used to be called the (3)GSM World Congress back then, with “MWC” only becoming a thing in 2008.
Other MWC events happen yearly, such as in Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Kigali. You can think of the Barcelona event as the big one.
When Is MWC 2024?
In February or early March of every year, you can expect to find the city of Barcelona teeming with telecoms employees, tech journalists, and smartphone fans. Unsurprisingly, the event was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
This year, MWC Barcelona 2024 will start on February 26th and end on February 29th. If you live in Europe or are looking for an excuse to take a vacation, Spain might be the destination to book before the end of the month.
How Can I Attend MWC 2024?
MWC 2024 isn’t like a keynote or product launch, so there won’t be a live stream to hop on if you want to see the products in real-time. But you can use the official MWC 2024 application to network, check out who will be exhibiting products at the show, and more.
The only option if you want the complete experience, though, is to go in person. That requires going all the way to Barcelona for a few days, which is already an expensive endeavor, but you need to buy a pass, too, starting at €879 ($950). But beyond that, as long as you have the resources for it, you don’t need to be a tech insider or anything.
Most people won’t be able to attend, but don’t worry; we’ll be on the ground at MWC 2024 to cover the latest news and launches.
