MWC 2023 Barcelona Spain

Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 is back in a big way this year. First, the organizer, GSMA, estimates that nearly 90,000 attendees flocked to the beautiful city of Barcelona for the perennial mobility event this year. Second, a handful of significant announcements were compelling and will likely have a lasting impact on the service provider community.

I attended the event for three days, visiting booths from leading operators, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and independent software vendors (ISVs), all announced a range of products and solutions that enable the world’s networks — from the core network and to all the consumer electronics products. Reflecting on the announcements made at MWC, I would like to share my insights on the ones that stood out for me.



The key themes that will be explored during the event will focus on the latest technologies that are set to disrupt the industry. This year, the five main themes are:

1. 5G Acceleration - with topics including ‘FWA: The Real 5G Success Story’, ‘Going Green: Are we Meeting Targets?’, ‘Ready to Talk 6G?’ and ‘Is a 5G Future for Everyone?’


2. Reality+ - with topics including ‘Who are the New Consumers in Web 3.0’, ‘Natural Intelligence: Can AI Really Think for Itself?’, and ‘How Immersive Technologies Can Transform the World?’


3. OpenNet - with topics including ‘OpenRAN: The Debate’, ‘How are Digital Twins Driving Network Transformation’, ‘Open Network Security: Who is Responsible?’, and ‘A Match Made in Space: The Relationship of Satellite and the Edge’


4. Digital Everything - with topics including ‘The Smart Factory & Warehouse: Accelerating Digital Transformation with 5G’, ‘Digital Reality manufacturing in the Industrial Metaverse’ and ‘Travel Beyond Cars’


5. FinTech - with topics including ‘NFTs: The One-Hit Wonder?’, ‘Fighting Back Against Financial Fraud Crime’ and ‘Money in the Metaverse’

Stopped by the Buenas Migas Italian coffee shop (address: Pl. d'Espanya, 6, 8, 08014 Barcelona, Spain) for a quick coffee. A nice cozy place with great view and tasty food.



Went to the for lunch (address: Pl. de Francesc Macià, 7, 08029 Barcelona, Spain). Very nice restaurant with various types of Italian food from pasta to pizza to meat, seafood, risotto and much more. The staff was friendly and generous. Food is delicious and the complementary limoncello shots and little cakes were greatly appreciated!



Naturally, a visit to the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, often simply known as the Sagrada Familia, was on my itinerary. This awe-inspiring edifice is a must-visit and ranks high on most tourists' bucket lists. Despite it being MWC week and tickets being sold out, I managed to capture some stunning photographs of this grand Roman Catholic church in Barcelona.

This extraordinary structure is the brainchild of Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect renowned for his remarkable buildings in Barcelona and beyond. A devout Catholic, Gaudí is celebrated for his contributions to the Modernisme, or Catalan Modernism style. The construction of the Sagrada Familia commenced in 1882. Unfortunately, Gaudí met with a tragic end in 1926, and the Spanish Civil War in 1936 halted the Basilica's construction. Work resumed in 1940 and continues to this day. The Sagrada Familia is entirely privately funded, receiving no assistance from the government or the Church. Initially, private donors funded it, but today, the majority of its income comes from the sale of visitor tickets.



Current estimates for the full completion of the Sagrada Familia are between 2030 and 2032. The majority of the church structure and steeples were hoped to be complete by 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi’s death, however this is looking unlikely at the present. The fun thing about visiting a building that is under construction is that every time you visit it will look a bit different. The downside is that, well, it is an active building site. So expect to see workers, cranes, and all the other aspects that you might expect from a building site!