The 20th anniversary edition of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona focuses on integrating artificial intelligence with mobile devices and Europe's drive for technological independence. While Asian giants showcase humanoid robots and advanced 5G-A systems, the European Commission together with Telefónica announce the €75 million EURO-3C project. It aims to strengthen the continent's digital autonomy against the dominance of the United States and China.
European digital sovereignty
Announcement of the €75 million EURO-3C project, aimed at building independent technological infrastructure in Europe.
On-device AI
Premieres of smartphones with AI systems having deep access to device functions, including from Nubia and Samsung.
New connectivity standard
Promotion of 5G-A technology by Huawei as the foundation for autonomous artificial intelligence agents in the network.
MWC anniversary in Barcelona
The 20th anniversary of the fair's presence in the capital of Catalonia, which now generates 25% of the region's digital GDP.
This year's edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona represents a symbolic turning point, where artificial intelligence has ceased to be merely an add-on and has become the foundation of mobile architecture. The spotlight was on device launches from Nothing and Nubia, as well as innovative solutions from Samsung, which announced full AI integration across its entire production chain by 2030. The brand Nothing presented the Phone 4a model in a new color palette, while Nubia drew attention with a smartphone featuring an "autopilot" function, which, through deep integration with the operating system, is designed to take over daily tasks from the user. One of the strongest political-economic themes of the fair is the debate over Europe's technological sovereignty. Marc Murtra, president of the company Indra, warned against the "naivety" of relying on technologies from the USA and China, pointing out that artificial intelligence is currently being used as a tool in the global rivalry of powers. In response to these challenges, the European Commission and Telefónica have initiated the EURO-3C platform. This project, with a budget of 75 million euros, aims to create a common European digital infrastructure that will allow local players to compete with global giants without losing control over EU citizens' data. The Mobile World Congress has been held in Barcelona since 2006, becoming the most important event in the telecommunications industry calendar. Over two decades, the event has evolved from a trade fair for simple mobile phones to a global forum for discussions on 5G networks, the Internet of Things, and algorithm ethics.In the infrastructure sphere, Huawei is promoting the era of the "Agentic Internet," a network based on autonomous AI agents utilizing the 5G-A (5.5G) standard. The company presented a report on fully connected industrial networks set to revolutionize smart factories. Meanwhile, operators like Deutsche Telekom are introducing AI assistants integrated directly into the phone line, allowing for automatic call management without the need to install additional applications. The global nature of the event was underscored by the presence of King Felipe VI of Spain, who met with a humanoid robot presented by the company Honor. „Contar con la IA de EE. UU. a largo plazo es ingenuo: todo se usa como un arma.” (Relying on US AI in the long term is naive: everything is used as a weapon.) — President of the company Indra, calling for European technological sovereignty.
Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media strongly emphasize device innovation and the benefits of AI for consumers. Conservative and business media highlight the themes of sovereignty, data security, and competition with the USA and China.
Mentioned People
- Marc Murtra — President of the company Indra, calling for European technological sovereignty.
- Li Peng — Huawei representative discussing the Agentic Internet era.
- Filip VI — King of Spain present at the official opening of the fair.