Barcelona is once again at the centre of the Mobile World Congress debate, as GSMA chief John Hoffman defended the event’s economic impact on the city. In an interview with El Periódico, he said MWC brings around $600 million in annual benefit, while the latest edition generated an economic impact of 588 million euros for Barcelona.
Hoffman said the congress is worth the disruption for one week a year, even if some residents, especially in areas such as Poble-sec, feel the strain. He also pointed to the event’s role in putting Barcelona on the global tech map, and said that visibility can help attract future visitors, companies and investment.
The GSMA chief stressed that MWC is built on a rare public-private partnership between Barcelona City Council, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Spanish Government. He said the model, which also includes the Mobile World Capital, has grown over 20 years into a year-round collaboration that is unusual for a global event.
Barcelona was chosen after a review of price, logistics, airports, hotels, transport and security, Hoffman said. He added that the move from Montjuïc to Fira Gran Via was a major step forward, and that the venue’s space is now a limit as demand continues to rise for the 2027 edition.
Hoffman also addressed wider industry issues, including 5G rollout, early talks on 6G, and the need for investment to keep networks moving forward. He said Europe is catching up in 5G deployment, while the last MWC edition saw 58% of attendees from industries adjacent to mobile telephony. He also noted that the event remains open to companies not under sanction, including some from the military sector.
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