Mobile World Congress 2015 wrap-up - Exclusive insight and analysis on the key developments and trends from Mobile World Congress 2015
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
The 2015 edition of Mobile World Congress was busier than ever and set new records with more than 93,000 visitors convening in Barcelona over the four-day event to do business, share knowledge and set out a positive vision for the future.
The conference agenda and the exhibition both benefited from a huge increase in participation by the wider ecosystem. The event attracted executives from the world’s largest and most influential mobile operators, internet and software companies, equipment providers, and companies from adjacent industry sectors such as automotive, finance, robotics and healthcare, as well as government delegations from across the globe.
Innovative technologies were also showcased by start-ups and entrepreneurs during the 'Four Years From Now’ event (4YFN), while the rapidly increasing number of connected devices demoed shows the pace at which the industry is committed to making a fully connected lifestyle a reality — and continuously increasing the positive impact that mobile has on society.
The topics we have selected in this report are therefore focused on key announcements and trends spotted during Congress, with a view to highlight the changes and growth factors that industry players will be implementing over the coming years to lead the industry’s transformation.
Our analysis is organised into three key areas; networks, devices and services:
Devices
- High-end flagship smartphone frenzy
- Breaking the operating system status quo
- Wireless charging technologies come to the forefront
- Wearables setting greater expectations
- A fully connected lifestyle not far on the horizon
Networks
- Defining 5G requirements and expectations
- Combining LTE, Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum
- Network virtualisation is gaining momentum
Services
- Championing trust through mobile security
- Mobile devices at the heart of contactless payment
- Google expands mobile strategy with MVNO deal
- Partnerships continue to drive M2M/IoT opportunities
- Broadening the game from M2M to IoT
Related research
The mobile churn challenge: where loyalty is lowest and four recommendations for operators
The latest consumer survey by GSMA Intelligence reveals that around one in seven mobile users changed their service provider over the previous 12 months. The main reasons for churn have stayed largely unchanged over the last five years, at the aggregate level, with value for money by far the top reason. However, variations exist between consumer segments in terms of the degree of churn and the drivers.
MWC Shanghai 2025: a window into the future?
MWC Shanghai is in the books for another year, having attracted 45,000 visitors (from 12,500 companies), along with 400 exhibitors and partner groups. The numbers were up from the 2024 event by 13% and 92% respectively. This analysis highlights the key takeaways and implications from meetings, summits and announcements at the event – and in particular, whether the progress seen in China can be mapped to other regions.
GSMA Open Gateway: State of the Market, H1 2025
Representing 285 networks and almost 80% of mobile subscribers worldwide, 73 operator groups are now committed to GSMA Open Gateway. This latest research provides an update on the state of the market, recent developments, and examples of GSMA Open Gateway in action. It also offers a deep dive on supply/demand gap analysis.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
The mobile churn challenge: where loyalty is lowest and four recommendations for operators
The latest consumer survey by GSMA Intelligence reveals that around one in seven mobile users changed their service provider over the previous 12 months. The main reasons for churn have stayed largely unchanged over the last five years, at the aggregate level, with value for money by far the top reason. However, variations exist between consumer segments in terms of the degree of churn and the drivers.
MWC Shanghai 2025: a window into the future?
MWC Shanghai is in the books for another year, having attracted 45,000 visitors (from 12,500 companies), along with 400 exhibitors and partner groups. The numbers were up from the 2024 event by 13% and 92% respectively. This analysis highlights the key takeaways and implications from meetings, summits and announcements at the event – and in particular, whether the progress seen in China can be mapped to other regions.
GSMA Open Gateway: State of the Market, H1 2025
Representing 285 networks and almost 80% of mobile subscribers worldwide, 73 operator groups are now committed to GSMA Open Gateway. This latest research provides an update on the state of the market, recent developments, and examples of GSMA Open Gateway in action. It also offers a deep dive on supply/demand gap analysis.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics