MWC21 Barcelona: insights beyond the headlines
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MWC21 Barcelona: insights beyond the headlines
The return of MWC Barcelona represented a major milestone for the industry. First, it was a welcome return to a large, physical event: more than 20,000 people attended in-person (with around 100,000 unique virtual and daily viewers on MWC21 and partner platforms). Second, it focused on the overarching theme of Connected Impact – more relevant than ever before considering the essential role of connectivity and digital innovation during the pandemic. Players from across the ecosystem were incredibly eager to reconnect and display their latest and upcoming innovations.
MWC21 Barcelona saw many important announcements across all the themes and topics shaping the future of the industry. This report goes beyond the headlines to provide an insightful view of the event from an analyst perspective, examining what took centre stage and reflecting on the expected and unexpected developments. Importantly, it provides a view on why these matter, and what they mean for the industry.
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MWC21 Barcelona: insights beyond the headlines
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