Tech sovereignty and AI networks set to dominate cell meet

The newest devices are on present in Barcelona till Thursday – Copyright AFP Manaure Quintero

Robin BJALON, Mona GUICHARD

Tens of hundreds flocked to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona Monday, with this yr’s version of the telecoms commerce honest marked by efforts to combine AI into networks.

Celebrating its twentieth yr within the Catalan capital, the annual occasion is anticipated to attract round 109,000 professionals and guests in addition to main telecoms operators and tools producers from all over the world.

Usually the day for main bulletins, Monday will see appearances from the heads of Indian telecoms big Bharti, America’s AT&T and France’s Orange.

And attendees are anticipated to pack an handle by SpaceX chief Gwynne Shotwell, as press experiences swirl of an imminent inventory market itemizing for the Elon Musk-owned satellite tv for pc web agency.

The broader satellite tv for pc communications sector will as soon as once more be “one of the defining themes of MWC this year”, analysts from British analysis agency CCS wrote.

So-called “direct-to-device” connectivity — through which telephones or different linked devices talk instantly through satellites overhead — “is the hottest topic right now, not just in the satellite industry, but in the mobile operator community”, they added.

The telecoms trade can look again on a yr of sturdy progress for world smartphone gross sales in 2025, including 1.9 % to succeed in 1.26 billion units.

But companies may also must journey the waves of a number of upcoming transformations within the sector.

– Memory scarcity –

“Sovereign AI will be a big discussion item” at this yr’s MWC, in accordance with analysts from the GSMA telecoms trade affiliation that hosts the honest, as nations look to insulate their tech infrastructure from geopolitical tensions.

Beyond political concerns, “the mobile industry is facing one of the most unprecedented challenges in its history,” stated Francisco Jeronimo, an analyst for market intelligence agency IDC.

Manufacturers are confronted with a surge within the value of working reminiscence (RAM) for units, pumped up by large demand from tech giants build up their AI computing capability.

Korean heavyweight Samsung confirmed off its newest cellphone fashions on Wednesday, with the anticipated costs of the three new devices already larger resulting from the price of reminiscence.

Over the quick time period, the worth surge will doubtless set off a “market contraction” in telephones this yr, IDC predicted.

But producers will nonetheless be eager to indicate off the improvements crammed into their newest fashions.

Chinese producer Honor is displaying what it calls a “robot phone” designed to operate as a conveyable AI companion.

The system has a digicam on a small robotic arm that acts as its head, which Honor stated in a Sunday demonstration would have the ability to nod together with a dialog or go searching in response to the person’s questions.

The cellphone is ready for launch within the second half of this yr.

Chinese opponents Xiaomi and Huawei, gross sales champions within the linked units sector, this weekend introduced new ranges of watches, headphones and tablets.

Displayed on flashy company stands, such new devices will line the avenues of the a number of cavernous halls at MWC for guests to peruse till Thursday.