MWC26 Shanghai opened at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, bringing together companies and policymakers from the mobile and connectivity sectors for the event’s 13th edition. The programme includes about 200 speakers and focuses on artificial intelligence, humanoid robotics, drones, autonomous vehicles and connected infrastructure. John Hoffman, chief executive of GSMA Ltd., and Sihan Bo Chen, the GSMA’s head of Greater China, hosted the opening ceremony.
Two humanoid robots developed by HONOR, Vita Boy and Flash, appeared during the ceremony. Flash previously competed in the Beijing Yizhuang Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in April. In an opening keynote, GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath identified humanoid robotics, the low-altitude economy and autonomous vehicles as emerging areas within Asia’s mobile ecosystem. He said telecommunications operators were increasingly working with industries to support robots, drones, connected vehicles and AI applications.
“Today, operators are partnering with industries to enable robots, drones, connected vehicles, and AI solutions across the economy,” Badrinath said. “They have become strategic digital partners in their own right.” The event includes a new Mobile AI Innovation Frontiers zone and a humanoid robot football penalties competition. Semi-finals and finals are scheduled for June 25, followed by a robot-themed event. Other additions include the Constellations of the Future programme, a Formula E showcase and the first GLOMO Awards Asia. The 4YFN startup programme and the GSMA Policy Leaders Forum also return. Hoffman said the technologies displayed at the event depend on underlying connectivity infrastructure, including networks supporting AI-enabled devices, humanoid robots and unmanned systems.
