MWC Barcelona 2025 attracts 109,000 participants, highlighting AI and the future of connectivity.

MWC Barcelona 2025 came to a close on March 6. GSMA says the event drew 109,000 attendees. The event was attended by the who’s who of the global tech industry. John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA, highlighted the event’s impact, stating, “MWC is where industries meet, and this year’s event showed just how fast technology is reshaping the world around us. From AI-powered networks to the future of smart mobility, the discussions this week in Barcelona will set the tone for the year ahead. What happens at MWC doesn’t stay at MWC, it sparks real change. I can’t wait to see where this momentum takes us next, particularly as we head to MWC25 Shanghai in June this year.”

GSMA discloses that the current edition of MWC Barcelona had participants from 205 countries and regions, with over 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners. More than 1,200 influential thinkers and speakers participated, with women constituting 41 percent of the speaker roster. The GSMA Ministerial Programme gathered representatives from 148 nations, uniting 66 ministers and 111 regulatory bodies. In the meantime, 4YFN highlighted more than 1,000 startups, nearly 380 speakers, and drew in over 900 investors overseeing combined funds totaling Euro 60 billion.

The occasion attracted considerable media attention, with more than 2,900 reporters and analysts documenting the recent updates, according to GSMA. Online participation was robust, as nearly 500,000 distinct views of keynotes and live sessions were recorded over MWC platforms and media channels.

Reflecting on the event’s success, Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA, expressed pride in MWC’s evolution. “I’ve attended every MWC since the early days and, with this being my last as Director General, I am incredibly proud of how it has evolved. The industry is embarking on a new era, and I’m profoundly grateful to have played a small role. Each MWC builds on the last, and this year was truly groundbreaking. As I hand the baton to Vivek Badrinath, I know the GSMA is uniquely positioned in this increasingly complex world to bring together policymakers, startups, and businesses to fuel private-public discourse on the topics that matter”.

MWC25 Barcelona sets the stage for a busy year of GSMA events, with MWC25 Shanghai scheduled for 18-20 June 2025. Additionally, GSMA announced the inaugural MWC25 Doha, set for 25-26 November 2025. GSMA has also organised dates for the MWC Barcelona next year, which will be held from March 2 to March 5, 2026.