Global Innovators Gather at MWC Shanghai

The GSMA’s Asian event returns to Shanghai next week under the theme Future First. MWC Shanghai will run from June 26 to 28 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) and Kerry Hotel Pudong.

The event will draw in more than 150 speakers and about 250 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners from across the mobile ecosystem. Sub-themes cover 5G and Beyond, AI Economy, and Manufacturing DX. Keynote 1 features the chairmen from China’s three major mobile operators, which continue to record solid growth following continued network investments. The operators’ capex, about double the capital intensity of many other markets, remains elevated almost five years after first launching 5G services.

During Keynote 1, GSMA Director General Mats Grannryd will lead a panel discussion with Globe Telecom and Axiata Group about Open Gateway in the context of Asia Pacific. Sun Media Group’s Yang, a former broadcast journalist and leading one of China’s top private media groups, joins Huawei executive director of the board David Wang, ZTE CEO Xu Ziyang, and Honor CEO George Zhao in Keynote 2 on the topic of AI First.

Outside of China, keynote speakers include the CEO of business development at Singtel Anna Yip, Globe Telecom president and CEO Ernest Cu, CEO of Axiata Group’s telecoms business Hans Wijayasuriya and Qualcomm CFO and COO Akash Palkhiwala. Senior executives from Ant Group, Amazon Web Services, AutoFlight, self-driving car tech company AutoX, Capitallink, and Beijing Unionpay Card Technology are also lined up to present.

MWC Shanghai has broadened its focus from pure mobility, with 30% of attendees last year representing adjacent industries. The exhibition is spread across five halls at SNIEC. Amazon Web Services and Spacecom will be exhibiting for the first time. New this year is Connected Industries, a major feature at MWC Barcelona. The dedicated area for connected businesses and organisations will take a region-specific focus, under the themes of Manufacturing and Smart Mobility.

MWC Shanghai will also host the finalists of the GSMA-China Telecom Open Gateway Hackathon, which takes place for 48 hours starting on June 25. Industry leaders will have the opportunity to participate in the Digital Leaders Program and join policymakers at regional roundtables dedicated to APAC, LATAM, and MENA.