Last year, in March, it was an event held in Barcelona that saw FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel travel to the Catalonian city to address those attending the GSM Association’s flagship mobile industry and technology event in person.
For 2022, the GSMA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Lara Dewar (pictured, top left), was ready to share to all about how the world is entering the 5G era not on the Iberian Peninsula but in Southern Nevada, as MWC Las Vegas began on Wednesday morning in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
GSMA Director General Mats Granryd was also on stage for the opening keynote, which began at 10am with a rich discussion on mobile connectivity, chatting with at least one vendor on the conference floor via video chat about the development of hologram technology.
Granryd looked toward the future of 5G and mobile connectivity worldwide. “It will be filled with innovators, rebels and entrepreneurs,” he said, noting that 1 in 4 mobile connections in the U.S. is 5G today.
The financial impact of this growth come 2030 will be huge, and Granryd wasn’t shy to share that story with MWC Las Vegas attendees.
Then, there are some of the new retail opportunities that could yield new advertising categories for traditional media. “By 2025 sales for eBikes and eMotorcycles will outpace sales of vehicles,” one vendor shared with Granryd.
TACKLING THE COVERAGE GAP
Access to mobile internet, with just over half of the world’s population (3.6 billion people), is absent, Granryd added.
That’s something the GSMA wants to reduce. The usage gap of 3.2 billion is a whole other matter, and that’s “a huge opportunity,” including in the U.S., where Rosenworcel has made closing the digital divide a key mission at the Commission.
With a mostly in-person schedule of events and only keynote events being streamed, MWC Las Vegas is a three-day affair attracting crowds across a venue many are familiar with from the Consumer Electronics Show and the NAB Show.
With the opening keynote underway, the “Tech Talk Stage” served as a platform to discuss closing the digital divide in America, with Accenture Communications & Media Industry Lead for North America Peters Suh in conversation with Verizon Wireless VP of Engineering for the West Territory Phillip French and AT&T Asst. VP of Education for Public Sector and FirstNet Stephen Matherne.
Back at the well-attended opening keynote, 5G’s ability to enhance the “Internet of Things” was noted. This perhaps puts broadcast TV on notice that building up NEXTGEN TV and adopting ATSC 3.0 is more essential than ever as “broadcast internet” needs for IoT connectivity could bring a big challenge to those at MWC Las Vegas who may not see ATSC 3.0 as a solution.
Given the comments from CTIA chief Meredith Attwell Baker, the future could present a battle for the IoT customer between companies like Gray Television and mobile services giants including T-Mobile and Verizon.
Later in the morning, a “Fintech Summit” turned the conversation to fighting the rise of financial crime. With cyberattacks a big problem for broadcast media of late, the topic was certainly timely and important as AuthenticID founder and President Blair Cohen joined in a conversation exploring how increased collaboration between key stakeholders across the eco-system has enabled the development of innovative solutions to increase security, and enhance user experience and digital power transformation.
As RBR+TVBR neared its Wednesday deadline, further sessions on 5G’s business potential were on the schedule. At 3:30pm PT, a first-day closing session asking if recessions are “good times to start startups” looked to be a big draw among MWC 2022 attendees.
Sessions continue Thursday into Friday, when “Pioneering the Metaverse” is to open the Tech Talks. A 10am PT session on Friday: Is 5G a Game-Changer for Gaming?
MWC 2022 concludes midday Friday.
To register, please visit the MWC Las Vegas website by clicking here.
