The GSMA - the mobile operator trade organisation - has chosen Barcelona as the Mobile World Capital from 2012 to 2018. Barcelona has beaten Milan, Munich and Paris in the final vote.
This means it’ll host the GSMA Mobile World Congress (as it has done for several years) and will also develop a range of other activities throughout the year. A ‘Mobile World Centre’ will comprise permanent and temporary exhibitions, while the Mobile World Festival will incorporate sporting events, music and art festivals, film awards and technology fairs.
John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd, said “We are thrilled to announce that Barcelona will be the Mobile World Capital for the next seven years. All of the cities who competed for this title presented extremely innovative and compelling bids, but in the end, Barcelona truly demonstrated that it deserves the title of the Mobile World Capital, with its combination of outstanding exhibition and conference facilities, its transportation and hospitality infrastructure, its commitment to expanding the reach of mobility throughout Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain, and the strong support of the public and private sectors. This is an exciting time for Barcelona and for the mobile industry as a whole.”
From 2013, Mobile World Congress will be moving from its current location at Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc to the newer Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue.
