The GSMA has announced that Amsterdam, Barcelona, Cologne, Milan, Munich and Paris will battle for the rights to host the Mobile World Congress for a five-year period from 2013 through 2017. The association expects to cut this list further in January 2011, with a winner announced “in mid-2011.” Thirty cities were involved in first-stage evaluations, before the six were named. In a statement, the GSMA noted that “many criteria” will be taken into account when deciding on the venue for the 50,000+ attendee event, claiming it will take “all aspects of what a city can offer into consideration,” but added that the selection process will remain confidential.

The association was also keen to stress that the Mobile World Congress will remain in Barcelona – home of the event since 2006 – until at least 2012. A statement from the GSMA heralded its partnership with Barcelona as a “tremendous success” and noted that, as the city has hosted Mobile World Congress for the past five years, it has “the assets to deliver an outstanding event.” Next year’s event runs 14-17 February, 2011.