The most interesting parts of the MWC according to five expert journalists

“The New Barcelona Post” wanted to know the opinions of five journalists specializing in the world of technology who will cover the news on the Mobile World Congress 2018, scheduled from 26th February to 1st March in Barcelona.

They are Rosa Jiménez Cano (El País), Francesc Bracero (La Vanguardia), César Salza (CNET in Spanish), Angel Jiménez de Luis (El Mundo) and Albert Cuesta (AlbertCuesta. com).

All five of them will be attending the Mobile World Congress to cover the event. They have been asked the same three questions in order to find out what topics they consider most prominent in this edition; what they would recommend in the programme; and which person, company, product or topic they think will become capture the spotlight at the MWC 2018.

Below are all their answers along with links to follow up on the news that will be published during the MWC.

ROSA JIMÉNEZ CANO

What topics do you think are the most prominent or interesting in this year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress?

The 5G deployment plans seem to me the most prominent part of the event in terms of devices, which are beginning to be compatible, and infrastructure and the possibilities of the IoT and connected homes. The next generation is being forged today.

What would you recommend the most in the MWC programme?

I would go to 4YFN, the start-up zone at the old Fira. It is usually a way to see trends and ideas and to come away with the enthusiasm of a more creative and less commercial event. The Google stand, which is fun and focused on the Android, allows you to try some of the search engine’s new features in a relaxed way.

Which person, company, product or theme do you think will capture the spotlight at the MWC?

There is already a winner even before the fair starts: the Samsung Galaxy S9. It is the star of the Android universe, which makes up for the fact that there are no prominent speakers this year. For the past two years, neither Mark Zuckerberg nor Sundar Pichai have attended. Last year the founder of Pokemon Go and the Netflix CEO were the highlights of the conference programme. This year, the level has dropped considerably.

FRANCESC BRACERO

What topics do you think are the most prominent or interesting in this year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress?

In this edition – and in the near future – one of the key issues will be the implementation of 5G and the advantages it will bring in different fields. In any case, the discussion topics at the MWC will be very far-ranging. One of the exhibitors which has made a strong showing, precisely because Apple is not attending as an exhibitor, is biometric identification, which is now in everyone’s sights. There are also some classics to be reckoned with, such as connected cars, smart cities and, this time, drones. This may well be the first time that Artificial Intelligence has become a major topic, because it can now be applied to mobile phones.

What would you recommend the most in the MWC programme?

The lectures in the Applied Artificial Intelligence cycle, because it is one of the most unfamiliar issues which may bring the most surprises.

Which person, company, product or theme do you think will capture the spotlight at the Mobile?

The MWC has many major players, and the list of big companies is extremely long in all areas. But then again, something unexpected can arise, as happened last edition with the Nokia 3310. Of course, manufacturers presenting new handsets such as Samsung, Huawei and Sony will stand out, but the list of prominent players will be much longer. There are also very high expectations around Intel and Qualcomm.

CÉSAR SALZA

What topics do you think are the most prominent or interesting in this year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress?

Due to the calls and events we are seeing, I think that in addition to the usual mobile phones, we will begin to see more technologies for the connected home and especially a huge commitment to security in houses in which you can enter with a password.

I also believe that a key trend in mobile phones will not only be their design but also the constant evolution of their mobile cameras. It’s something Samsung will emphasise, but so will brands like Nokia or Motorola.

What would you recommend the most in the MWC programme?

The understanding that so many connected devices will unavoidably lead to security problems. Even banks are already facing these problems, so “Cybercrime: Breaching Data, Humans and Reality” is probably one of the most important events on MWC’s official programme. “Transforming Communities with Internet of Things” will also be a high-profile lecture, especially considering that 5G is just around the corner and that we will see evidence of this technology at the congress.

Which person, company, product or theme do you think will capture the spotlight at the MWC?

Last year, Nokia took over the MWC with the 3310, and unless it does something similar this year, Samsung will probably steal the limelight by relaunching its star phone at the event. As always, there are surprises that can stand out and make us change our minds, so we will be very attentive in CNET’s coverage in Spanish, and we’ll have a whole team running around Barcelona all week long so we don’t miss anything.

ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ DE LUIS

What topics do you think are the most prominent or most interesting in this year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress?

After several years talking about 5G technology, this will finally be the congress where we get a clear vision of the deployment timeframes and the possibilities that will come with the new generation of telephone networks. This is a fair where the announcement of new terminals usually eclipses other news – and we will see some of that in this edition, too – but this year the momentum of 5G will be noticeable, and I think it will be the focal point of the conference.

What would you recommend the most in the MWC programme?

The lectures held at the fair are always interesting and attract personalities that are otherwise difficult to see in person. On this year’s line-up, for example, we have Jeff Zucker, president of CNN, and Fernando Alonso on behalf of McLaren, as an example of the increasingly common pairing of technology and the automotive world.

Which person, company, product or theme do you think will capture the spotlight at the MWC?

As I said before, at this fair the launch of terminals usually eclipses other news, and this year it will probably happen again, as Samsung has decided to bring its announcement of the Galaxy S9 back to the fair. In recent years, the company has been unveiling its phones at independent events. The Galaxy S is always one of the star terminals of the year, so it will have the strength to lead the conversation around the MWC.

ALBERT CUESTA

What topics do you think are the most prominent or most interesting in this year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress?

Final negotiations between operators, network providers and regulators to define the final 5G standard. Proposals on business models that make the costly deployments of this new technology sustainable. And artificial intelligence applications in both infrastructures and end-user devices, among other aspects of cybersecurity.

What would you recommend the most in the MWC programme?

For industry professionals, the GSMA Innovation City space and the entire conference programme, including the Women4Tech sessions. For the general public, the parallel programme of the Mobile Week BCN on the digital transformation of society, and the YoMo festival to promote technology vocations among children and young people.

Which person, company, product or theme do you think will capture the spotlight at the MWC?

The only major brand to feature a flagship phone is Samsung with the Galaxy S9. I also expect to see specific devices from the Internet of Things. I am curious to see to what extent the size of 5G phone and urban antenna prototypes has been reduced. The main players will be regulators such as Ajit Pai (FCC) and politicians like Andrus Ansip (European Commission), although the headlines will probably be captured by the race-car driver Fernando Alonso, who will participate in a session on F1 technology.