Technology companies are losing no time after the world’s biggest smartphone trade show to ensure their plans to seize on fifth generation (5G) telecommunications opportunities are realised over the coming months.
The 2018 edition of the Mobile World Congress ended on March 1, drawing a record number of more than 107,000 visitors from 205 countries and territories.
More than 2,400 firms showcased cutting-edge products and services across 120,000 net square metres of exhibition and hospitality space at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, compared with more than 2,300 last year, according to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), the global body of telecommunications groups.
John Hoffman, chief executive of GSMA Ltd, said the event had had been another big success. More than 55 per cent of the attendees held senior positions, including over 7,700 top executives, up from more than 6,100 CEOs last year, he said.
“We are not focussed on necessarily having the biggest event – we continually strive to convene the right audience and deliver a high-quality experience across all aspects of programmes and events,” he said.
“We are gratified with the number of senior-level attendees, particularly the number of CEOs, as well as the continued strong attendance of government ministers and regulators.”
Plans and prospects for 5G have been talk of the town over the past week, as the industry kept a close watch on the four-day event.
There, industry leaders unveiled their ambitious plans for global leadership in 5G networks.
Huawei Technologies, a Chinese information and communications technology giant, has invested over US$600 million in its research and development activities for 5G alone. It aims for worldwide commercialisation of its 5G services and products over the next three years.
“Over the years, we have worked with many of you [firms in the mobile industry] to advance 3G, 4G – and now 5G and other ICT technologies so that more people can get connected and enjoy better services,” said Ken Hu, rotating and acting CEO at Huawei.
The firm has connected more than a third of the world’s population, he said.
“I am proud of what we have achieved, but the mobile industry is evolving. It will soon become the cornerstone of a fully connected, intelligent world, and we still have a lot of work to do,” Hu said during an awards ceremony at the event.
Huawei released a range of 5G wireless product services at the trade show. The products support all 5G frequency bands and cover different types of sites to suit deployment needs in diverse scenarios.
It also launched its 5G customer-premises equipment (CPE), the world’s first commercial terminal device.
Source: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/mobile-players-race-ahead-with-5g-plans/