MWC Barcelona: How to connect a divided world
In Hall 1 of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, there is a recurring phenomenon, where circular crowds of spectators in suits spontaneously form at various points of the day, at random points along the corridors formed by well-lit booths showing off networking gear or introducing mobility startups. Following the gaze of the gathered onlookers directs one to a pair of glowing robot dogs chasing each other, rolling and begging.
At this point, it’s hard not to get emotional as you take stock of humanity’s indomitable drive toward ever more ambitious technological pursuits. It’s also hard not to wish dogs made more noise – while cute, they’re unsettlingly quiet.
‘Velocity – Unleashing Tomorrow Today’
The world’s largest mobile technology fair brings with it the theme “Velocity – Unleashing Tomorrow Today”. The aim is to conjure up images of the world’s businesses and consumers entering an all-digital future supported by super-fast 5G connections or robotic quadrupeds.
But manufacturer Unitree’s robodogs are among the most tangible things released at MWC. There have been fewer global product launches in Barcelona compared to past iterations of the show, in some cases “global launch” here meaning launched for the first time outside of China.
“Product launches vary; on the smartphone side, we are seeing many Chinese vendors globalize phones that have already launched in China, which is increasing consumer choice, especially for foldables,” Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techsponencial, told DW .
Among them are Xiaomi’s flagship phone, the Xiaomi 13 and the Xiaomi 13 Pro. In this long-awaited period of post-COVID restrictions, Xiaomi is looking to take on major producers like Apple and Samsung.
Battleground Markets in the US-China Tech Rivalry
But the real battle is one that is not openly present at the event. To say that the US-China technology rivalry loomed over MWC 2023 would be a slight exaggeration. The outsized presence of Chinese companies at a mobile technology trade show in the heart of Europe is itself a message to Americans about their readiness to continue pursuing markets around the world, even in the face of competition and security-related tension with Washington.
In recent years, Chinese tech giant Huawei has been subject to increasingly tight restrictions from Washington that have cut it off from critical components like semiconductors and chip-making equipment. A few weeks ago, the US government stopped providing licenses to US companies, allowing them to export to Huawei.
At the MWC, Huawei went out of its way to show that it still has a very large global presence and strong ties with international customers. A statement it released to highlight its participation in the event in Barcelona said:
“Third-party test results show that the 5G networks provided by Huawei to customers in 13 countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, provide an optimal experience… 3,000 contracts for 5G industrial applications, where they collaborate with operators and partners from different sectors.”
Source: DW
Lori Barajas is an accomplished journalist, known for her insightful and thought-provoking writing on economy. She currently works as a writer at 247 news reel. With a passion for understanding the economy, Lori’s writing delves deep into the financial issues that matter most, providing readers with a unique perspective on current events.