Mobile World Congress 2025 (MWC25) kicked off yesterday in Barcelona, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and 5G technologies. The event brings together global leaders and representatives from various industries to explore a connected future projected to contribute nearly $11 trillion to the global economy by 2030.
In his opening keynote, GSMA Director General Mats Granryd emphasized the industry’s need to fully transition to 5G Standalone networks, develop new revenue models, and leverage AI and Open Gateway APIs for growth. He also highlighted the importance of securing future spectrum access and addressing the global mobile usage gap, noting that 3.1 billion people are covered by mobile networks but do not use mobile internet. Closing this usage gap, he said, could unlock a $3.5 trillion economic opportunity.
According to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Report 2025, mobile technologies and services generated 5.8% of global GDP in 2024, amounting to $6.5 trillion. By 2030, this figure is expected to rise to nearly $11 trillion, or 8.4% of GDP, as countries benefit from increased productivity and efficiency driven by mobile services and digital technologies, including 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and AI. Several sectors are expected to see substantial growth from these advancements between 2024 and 2030, with manufacturing projected to experience a 25% increase in economic value, accommodation and food services anticipated to grow by 17%, and public administration expected to see a 14% rise.
The report also indicates that 5G connections worldwide surpassed two billion at the end of 2024 and are projected to account for 57% of total mobile connections by 2030, overtaking 4G adoption by 2028.
MWC25 features approximately 2,700 exhibitors and is expected to exceed the 101,000 attendees recorded in the previous year. The event is anticipated to generate an economic impact of between 540 and 550 million euros for Barcelona. Discussions at the conference will cover a range of topics, including opportunities presented by 5G, personalized data management, innovations in quantum technology, and extended reality, with AI remaining a central theme.
Among the prominent figures scheduled to speak at MWC25 are Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Lauren Lyons, a former executive at SpaceX; and Garry Kasparov, an expert in AI. The event also includes the 11th edition of the startup fair 4YFN (Four Years From Now), which is similarly focused on AI.
MWC25 runs from March 3 to March 6, 2025, at the Fira de Gran Via in Barcelona.
