MWC25 Barcelona registers 109,000 footfall
From 205 nations and territories
A total of 109,000 visitors attended MWC25 Barcelona, the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event held from March 3 to 6, 2025. It was a transformative week of industry-shaping launches and impactful collaboration, highlighting advanced mobile technology and AI.
The event was pivotal for the tech world, with leading experts debating technology’s role in reshaping society, business, and culture.
Held at the Fira Gran Via, MWC25 saw experts from across the globe gather to discuss groundbreaking innovations in mobile connectivity and AI’s profound impacts. Discussions spanned from AI-powered networks to the future of smart mobility, exploring both opportunities and challenges in these rapidly developing fields.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA and the organiser behind MWC25, said: “MWC is where industries meet, and this year’s event showed how fast technology is reshaping the world. 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 does not 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.”
Global event
The event was global, with 109,000 attendees from 205 countries and territories. More than 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners showcased their latest innovations, including some of the most significant developments in AI, connectivity, and mobile tech.
The event also featured 1,200+ speakers and thought leaders, 41% of whom were female. The GSMA Ministerial Programme hosted 188 delegations from 148 countries and 40 intergovernmental organisations, 66 ministers, and 111 heads of regulatory authorities.
4YFN (Four Years From Now), MWC’s startup-focused segment, welcomed over 1,000 exhibitors, 380 speakers, and 900+ investors with collective funds of €60 billion. Regarding leadership representation, 21% of attendees were C-suite executives, while 50% were at director level or above; 56% represented industries adjacent to the mobile ecosystem, reflecting the event’s broad appeal across sectors.
The Talent Arena, organised by Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital), attracted more than 20,000 attendees, with 53% senior professionals and 47% students and young professionals.
Mats Granryd, the outgoing Director General of GSMA, shared his pride in the event’s growth. “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,” he commented.
As Granryd handed the baton to Vivek Badrinath, the new Director General of GSMA, he expressed his confidence in the event’s future. The 2025 MWC series will continue to bring together policymakers, startups, and businesses to fuel discussions that influence global policy and industry standards.
Badrinath will take centre stage at the inaugural M360 Eurasia event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in May 2025, marking the start of GSMA’s global series of events.
Looking forward, the GSMA announced the inaugural MWC25 Doha, scheduled for November 25-26, 2025 in Qatar. The event promises to unite industry leaders and innovators to shape the future of digital societies in the Middle East and beyond.
Additionally, MWC25 Shanghai, set for June 18-20, 2025, will feature new elements, including the co-location of IOTE, expanding the scope of the event.
MWC Barcelona will return next year, scheduled for March 2-5, 2026, continuing its legacy as the cornerstone of global mobile and connectivity innovation.
Image: More than 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners showcased their latest innovations at MWC25. Credit: GSMA
