The ‘Age of IQ’ is coming: the Mobile presents the cell phone that thinks and strikes alone | Economy | EUROtoday

Barcelona is making ready to grow to be, as soon as once more, the technological capital of the planet. But this isn’t simply any version, because the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 marks the 20 th anniversary of the occasion’s arrival within the Catalan capital. With the motto The IQ Era (The Era of IQ) resounding strongly within the halls of the Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía, this version guarantees to be the turning level the place Artificial Intelligence (AI) stops being a easy demo curious to grow to be an autonomous engine of the lives of residents.

Attendees who stroll via the eight pavilions of the venue should put together for a human tide, as greater than 110,000 professionals from 205 international locations are anticipated to crowd the amenities between March 2 and 5. The business not solely seeks to surpass attendance information from earlier than the pandemic, but additionally to consolidate an financial influence of 585 million euros for town, which is 4.3% greater than the earlier yr. The corridor can be packed, and the group admits that it has needed to optimize the match of the businesses, and even find some exterior the venue, to have the ability to accommodate everybody. This must be the truth of the congress within the coming years, ready for Fira de Barcelona to have its corridor 0. This new pavilion is below building and won’t be operational till 2027, though the MWC won’t be able to make use of it till its 2028 version.

This return of the giants and the excessive expectations of attendance have been validated by John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA (the cell business affiliation that organizes the congress), who has been categorical in stating that Barcelona is the house of the group perpetually. Under this premise, a large congress has been designed that has greater than 2,900 exhibiting corporations and 1,200 audio system, exhibiting that MWC 2026 is not only a cellphone honest, however a much wider ecosystem.

In truth, 60% of present attendees not belong strictly to the cell sector, however to adjoining industries resembling automotive, logistics and well being, highlighting this yr the “New Frontiers Zone” in Hall 6 as the good magnet for consideration because of its give attention to spatial connectivity and the stellar participation of figures resembling Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX.

In this version, Huawei’s position deserves a separate point out as a result of paradox that its bodily hegemony represents within the face of geopolitical strain. Despite the persistent veto of the United States and the current tips of the European Union – which in January of this yr has intensified plans to get rid of “high-risk” suppliers from important networks inside 36 months – the Chinese large not solely maintains, however expands its dominance within the Fira. The Chinese agency as soon as once more occupies the biggest space of ​​all the congress, nearly fully dominating Pavilion 1 with a floor space that exceeds 11,000 sq. meters.

Russian corporations is not going to attend the congress, as a result of worldwide sanctions that weigh on them and on the nation as a result of conflict in Ukraine, however there can be Israeli corporations. The group defends its presence even if the Barcelona City Council broke ties with Israel as a result of conflict in Gaza, and even if the Israeli Government itself requested to boycott the congress. Various platforms and unions, in addition to MWC employees, have protested the presence of Israeli corporations. Some Palestinian corporations can even attend the congress for the primary time in 4 years.

Huawei’s deployment is not only a query of meters, however of monetary muscle: the corporate is consolidating itself as the primary financial lung of the occasion, being the biggest sponsor and the entity that contributes probably the most funds to the GSMA to make this international occasion attainable. This yr it focuses on “Green 5.5G”, demonstrating that it’s attainable to extend community capability by lowering vitality consumption by greater than 30%.

In the sphere of operators, Telefónica stands out, which is able to current a round pavilion presided over by a 360-degree LED ring centered on its “5G Tactical Bubble” for catastrophe administration utilizing drones, robots and satellite tv for pc connectivity. The operator can even exhibit the potential of its 5G Stand Alone community, AI utilized to cyber protection, using quantum computing for logistics optimization and the combination of NaviLens to enhance the accessibility of its stand in Hall 3.

The AI ​​Agent

Regarding the technological tendencies that may mark the step, if 2024 was the yr of fascination with ChatGPT and 2025 that of its integration into the working system, 2026 is established because the yr of Agent AI. It is not a few chat that’s restricted to answering questions, however about techniques able to executing duties autonomously, a development “agentic“which can be mirrored within the stands from manufacturers resembling Qualcomm and MediaTek. These new chips permit the cellphone to study private workflows, resembling reserving journeys or managing emails, executing them with out step-by-step consumer intervention, which represents the transition of AI from the information middle to the sting of the gadget, guaranteeing privateness and pace.

Accompanying this intelligence, the community infrastructure additionally takes a qualitative leap, as a result of though 5G-Advanced continues to be the deployment normal, MWC 2026 will function a showcase for the primary purposeful 6G prototypes. We will see large antennas known as Giga-MIMO able to dealing with beforehand unthinkable connection densities, paving the way in which for zero-latency holographic communication and telemedicine. Along with this, NTN connectivity (Non-Terrestrial Networks) will permit satellite tv for pc cell to cease being an emergency perform and grow to be built-in into on a regular basis life, guaranteeing that the idea of being “out of coverage” is a factor of the previous because of the evolution of the 5G-Advanced normal. In addition, utilized quantum computing may have its house with Telefónica and different operators, who will present actual use circumstances starting from the optimization of city logistics to accelerated drug analysis.

These advances will materialize within the protagonists of the gadget showcase, the place the MWC continues to be a reference. Regarding cellphones, the primary attraction for the common shopper, this yr’s version marks the tip of the hegemony of the smartphone “flat” because of the consolidation of revolutionary versatile gadgets. Samsung will showcase its not possible codecs, highlighting the Galaxy Tri-Fold that folds into three components and the second technology of the Galaxy Ring with superior well being sensors for glucose detection. Motorola challenges the boundaries of engineering with the Razr Fold, which is offered because the thinnest book-style foldable in historical past.

AI is not a software program invisible to realize physique and autonomy. The Honor Robot Phone breaks the mildew with a digital camera mounted on a robotic arm able to following the consumer in 360 levels, whereas the ZTE Doubao Phone introduces the primary “native AI” working system able to navigating different purposes and executing advanced duties by itself. This development is accomplished by Honor’s foray into shopper robotics, introducing a humanoid assistant that acts because the bodily management core for all the dwelling ecosystem.

In the sphere of photographic energy and excessive connectivity, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra redefines cell optics by permitting the direct attachment {of professional} Micro Four Thirds lenses and including a dynamic rear display for content material creators. At the identical time, the Huawei Mate 80 Pro is positioned because the benchmark in technological resilience, integrating high-speed satellite tv for pc video calling to ensure complete communication wherever on the planet.

Beyond cell, mobility and sustainability shut this circle of innovation, with Xiaomi deploying its “Human-Car-Home” ecosystem (home-car-home) and its renewed fleet of electrical autos. Sustainability, for its half, stops being an ornamental panel and turns into an audited requirement at every stand, selling gadgets made with 100% recycled supplies and a robust dedication to the best to restore, with manufacturers like Fairphone gaining traction.

A metropolis full to the brim

The celebration of the MWC represents an organizational problem for Barcelona beginning this weekend. The greater than 110,000 attendees fill nearly all of the lodge rooms, fill town’s taxis and VTCs and put a pressure on the transport infrastructure, which has needed to reorganize its schedules and capacities to accommodate the congressmen. The fundamental risk, the strike of Railway drivers of the Generalitat de Catalunya (the primary technique of collective transport to succeed in the amenities the place the present is held) was fully deactivated on Friday when all of the unions agreed to name off the strike, which was scheduled for March 2 to 4, coinciding with the MWC. Barcelona has additionally bolstered the metro strains and common buses that attain the amenities, and has additionally enabled a shuttle bus between the Fira de Barcelona venues on Gran Via de L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, the place the majority of the MWC actions happen, and the Plaza de Espanya venue in Barcelona, ​​the place the parallel Talent Arena exhibition is held.

Both resorts and residences are at an occupancy degree bordering on full. The Apartur vacationer house affiliation explains that occupancy can be at 91%, with greater than half of the 58,124 vacationer housing areas destined for congressmen. For its half, the Hotel Guild has additionally identified that the 453 resorts within the metropolis are additionally hanging the poster fully, particularly within the first two days of the congress. With costs that may exceed 600 euros per room throughout the days of the MWC, effectively above the annual common, the sector is aware of that it’s a essential second. “It is one of the key moments of the year, and we have everything ready to receive the congressmen,” explains Nacho Barrau, CEO of Ona Hotels, which has an institution proper in entrance of the Fira.