The annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) drew nearly 105,000 attendees from 207 countries last week, reinforcing the event’s evolution from a smartphone showcase into a global meeting point for artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity and telecom networks.
Organised by GSMA, the 20th anniversary edition of the four-day event hosted more than 2,900 exhibitors and over 1,700 speakers. One message dominated discussions across the exhibition halls and conference stages: artificial intelligence is moving deeper into the networks themselves.
Instead of simply running AI services on smartphones or in remote data centres, telecom operators and technology companies are increasingly working to integrate AI directly into the architecture of future networks. The goal is to allow networks to operate more efficiently, adapt to demand in real time and offer new programmable services to businesses and developers.
Several announcements illustrated this shift. GSMA for example launched Open Telco AI, an initiative aimed at developing shared AI models, datasets and benchmarks specifically designed for telecom environments. Industry leaders argue that general-purpose AI systems often struggle with telecom networks, where reliability, speed and security requirements are far stricter.
At the same time, several major European telecom operators demonstrated what they described as the first pan-European “edge continuum”. The initiative links edge computing infrastructure across networks operated by Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and TIM.
In practical terms, this would allow developers to deploy applications across multiple telecom networks through a single interface — an approach increasingly framed as part of Europe’s broader push for digital sovereignty.
Chinese telecom giant Huawei also used the event to present its vision for the next phase of network development.
In two keynote presentations, the company argued that so-called “agentic” AI systems (autonomous software agents capable of managing network operations) could reshape telecom infrastructure from end to end.
In such systems, operators would specify desired outcomes while AI systems automatically configure network resources to achieve them.
Huawei also promoted 5G-Advanced (5G-A) as the technological bridge between today’s 5G networks and the future 6G standard. The company emphasised however that formal milestones for 6G standards within the 3GPP standards body may not expected to be finalised until 2029.
Devices still draw crowds
Despite the growing focus on infrastructure, consumer technology continued to generate attention on the show floor.
Chinese manufacturer Honor presented a concept “robot phone” equipped with a small robotic camera arm capable of physically adjusting itself to capture photos and video. The prototype attracted curiosity as an attempt to combine AI software with mechanical design.
Lenovo, meanwhile, showcased a modular AI laptop concept with detachable displays and swappable components, reflecting the industry’s ongoing search for compelling designs for so-called “AI PCs”.
Camera-focused devices also continued to drive innovation. A Leica-branded Leitzphone, built on Xiaomi hardware, demonstrated how smartphone competition is increasingly centred on photography and creator tools rather than pure hardware specifications.
Beyond new technologies, the event also underscored how telecom policy is increasingly tied to geopolitics and industrial strategy.
According to the GSMA, MWC’s ministerial programme brought together 188 government delegations, 54 ministers and more than 100 regulatory authorities. The strong presence of policymakers reflected how telecom infrastructure is now closely linked to national security, digital sovereignty and economic competitiveness.
Satellite connectivity also featured prominently. The GSMA Foundry and the European Space Agency announced plans to make up to €100 million available for projects combining artificial intelligence with non-terrestrial networks, including direct-to-device satellite communication.
Large-scale investment in AI infrastructure was also highlighted beyond the telecom sector itself. Reuters reported that Amazon used the MWC backdrop to highlight an additional €21 billion investment in data centres in Spain, underscoring how computing capacity has become a critical pillar of Europe’s digital economy.
Belgium was also represented at the congress through a national pavilion showcasing startups and technology companies from across the country. The pavilion aimed to highlight Belgian expertise in telecom innovation, digital infrastructure and AI applications while helping local firms connect with international partners and investors attending the event.
