As Mobile World Congress (MWC) celebrates two decades in Barcelona, new figures reveal the monumental economic and social impact the event has had on the city and the wider region. Since its arrival from Cannes in 2006, the world’s largest connectivity conference has generated a staggering €6.9 billion for the local economy and created an estimated 173,000 part-time jobs, cementing Barcelona’s position as a premier global technology hub.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The data, presented in a report titled “The legacy of 20 years of MWC: two decades of digital transformation,” highlights a profound shift in the Catalan economy. Co-authored by Mobile World Capital Barcelona and the Fundación Cotec, the study reveals that Catalonia’s digital economy has grown by 86% over the last 20 years and now accounts for 25.5% of the region’s total GDP.
A Catalyst for a Digital Economy
When the event, then known as the GSM World Congress, first moved to the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc venue, the digital landscape was vastly different. Twenty years on, MWC has not only outgrown its original home, now sprawling across the vast Fira Gran Via complex in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, but has also overseen the city’s transformation into a tech powerhouse.
“The digital sector is now the main economic and social engine of the country,” stated Francesc Fajula, CEO of MWCapital, during the report’s presentation on Monday. According to the study, Barcelona is now home to 130,000 professionals in the digital sector, representing 6% of the city’s total workforce. This figure has nearly doubled in the last eight years alone.
This growth has been fostered by a strong partnership between public and private entities. Maria Galindo, Secretary of Digital Policies for the Generalitat de Catalunya, praised the “complicity between the different administrations and technology companies.” This collaboration has tangible benefits for residents, as noted by Jordi Valls, Barcelona’s Deputy Mayor for Economy, who remarked that the high-paying jobs in the tech sector are helping to “improve the city’s salary structure.”
Securing the Future Amidst City Changes
With such a successful partnership, local authorities are keen to ensure the event’s long-term future in the city. Miquel Sàmper, the Catalan Minister for Business and Labour, thanked the GSMA, the event’s organisers, for their 20-year commitment. “We will try to make it difficult for them to consider leaving Catalonia and Barcelona,” he affirmed during a presentation at the Generalitat’s stand.
This commitment appears unwavering, even in the face of significant local policy shifts. John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, dismissed concerns over the Barcelona City Council’s plan to phase out all tourist apartment licences by 2028. Speaking to Cadena Ser, as reported by El Periódico, Hoffman stated the measure does not worry him “at all.”
“Twenty years ago, things like Airbnb didn’t even exist and we used other options, like university accommodation. We will be creative and work to find a way,” he said. “We have a long-term agreement and, as long as it is mutually beneficial, I am sure we will continue to consider Barcelona our home.”
His comments provide a stark contrast to a recent campaign by Apartur, the city’s tourist apartment association, which warned that eliminating over 50,000 beds could jeopardise Barcelona’s ability to host major international events.
Beyond Mobiles: AI, Inclusion and Infrastructure
The relationship has been mutually beneficial. MWC provides an economic windfall, while the city provides a world-class backdrop and the necessary infrastructure, which has grown in tandem with the event. According to a report by Catalan News, the number of available hotel beds in Barcelona has nearly doubled in the past 20 years, a necessity for an event that pushes the city’s accommodation to near-full capacity each year.
Looking ahead, Catalan officials are focused on leveraging the MWC platform to pioneer the next technological revolution: Artificial Intelligence. Minister Sàmper described AI as an “authentic revolution” and pointed to the government’s Catalonia AI Strategy, a plan with a proposed investment of €1 billion by 2030 to foster its ethical implementation.
However, the rapid growth has also highlighted persistent challenges, particularly regarding gender inclusion. Eva Menor, the Minister for Equality and Feminism, noted that women comprised only 25% of attendees at the last MWC and just 9% of students in vocational IT training. “We must improve these figures,” she urged. “Women are 51% of the population, and therefore, 51% of the available talent. In a sector that has 9,000 vacancies, we have a responsibility to mobilise all available talent.”
