The GSMA today announced that Barcelona, Milan, Munich and Paris are now battling to become the host city of the Mobile World Congress for a five-year period from 2013 through 2017. As well as hosting the world’s leading mobile event, the winner will also hold the status of the ‘Mobile World Capital,’ an initiative from the GSMA that aims to provide “a range of academic and business development opportunities, cultural festivals and programmes, and the creation of a centre for the industry.”

The GSMA began its search for the Mobile World Capital by first evaluating more than 30 cities, narrowing the list to six candidates in August 2010 (Amsterdam and Cologne have now been removed from the process). The GSMA expects to announce a winner in mid-2011. The Mobile World Congress will remain in Barcelona until at least 2012; indeed, this year’s event takes place in the city February 14-17.