El MWC 2017 once again breaks attendance records and generates an economic impact of 465 million euros

This year's edition was attended by 108.000 assistants of 208 countries, of which more than 55% They were senior executives. Besides, welcomed more than 2.300 exhibiting companies, coming from both the mobility environment and adjacent industries such as automotive, finance or health.

The latest edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) has closed its doors, the past 2 March), with a record number of 108.000 attendees from 208 countries, which represents an increase in 7% with respect to that of 2016.

According to data provided by the organizing entity GSMA, in collaboration with Barcelona Fair, more than 55% of MWC attendees 2017 have been senior executives (6.100 They were CEOs) and a 23% They were women, figure that has increased by 14% compared to the previous year. Besides, They came this year 3.500 media and industry analysts.

Besides, The GSMA estimates that the economic impact of this event has amounted to more than 465 million euros and has created 13.200 temporary jobs.

The exhibition received more than 2.300 exhibiting companies from both the mobility environment and adjacent industries such as automotive, finance or health. This year has also been a record in terms of government delegations with an increase in 14%: 167 countries and a total number of 1.700 assistants. The program focused on maximizing the socioeconomic impact of mobile telephony worldwide and creating a regulatory environment that encourages investment and innovation.

“Mobile World Congress enjoyed another record year in 2017, underscoring its position as the world's most important mobility market event. The theme of this year's fair was 'Mobile: The Next Element’, which reflects the role of the mobile phone in the lives of millions of people around the world”, comment ” John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA.

Coinciding with the congress, In this edition the Youth Mobile Festival took place for the first time (YoMo), that promote the GSMA and the Mobile World Capital Barcelona, a new event that concentrates on the Montjuïc site 16.000 boys and girls from 10 y 16 years from all over Spain. Likewise, the fourth edition of the 4 Years From Now (4Yfn), dedicated to entrepreneurship in mobile technologies, which this year attracted approximately 19.000 assistants, with an increase of 60% regarding the edition of 2016.

The main exhibition was held at Fira Gran Vía with a space of 115.000 square meters, while the 4YFN and Yomo events occupied 50.000 square meters in the Fira de Montjuïc venue. A novelty that has been launched this year has been the Nextech exhibition, that was held in the pavilion 8 and showed the innovative virtual reality and augmented technologies, robotics, cognitive computing and artificial intelligence.

The next edition of the Mobile World Congress will take place in Barcelona between 26 February and 1 March 2018.