MWC Barcelona 2023 – News

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Jessica Rosenworcel outlined a plan to integrate satellite and terrestrial networks during a session this week at MWC23 Barcelona by proposing a new regulatory framework.

EU industry chief Thierry Breton (pictured) indicated he is taking an open-minded approach to the big issue of “fair share” and who should fund the rollout of 5G and broadband networks in future.

The mobile industry has the opportunity to lead transformation in a new era of virtual worlds, GSMA Director General Mats Granryd (pictured) said, as he illustrated the potential for new business models for consumers, enterprises and whole countries.

Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete, chairman and CEO of Telefonica (pictured), hailed the dawn of a new era triggered by breakthrough technologies that he backed to be impactful enough to alter the course of history.

Orange CEO Christel Heydemann (pictured) delivered a dour summary of the crunch being felt by Europe’s mobile operators, with contradictory pressures to meet ever-rising traffic, mostly originating from large digital players, while keeping prices low and squeezing costs.

Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Hoettges (pictured) argued Europe was all but dead in terms of global relevance, slating a regulatory environment which hinders operator consolidation and does little to make large web companies pay a fair share towards connectivity costs.

HMD Global unveiled a trio of Nokia-branded smartphones, pushing longer battery life, improved durability and imaging, in addition to a repairability play in partnership with iFixit.