GSMA 2019 “MWC Los Angeles, in Partnership With CTIA” Reinforces Its Position as the Leading Industry Destination

The GSMA today reported the highlights of the 2019 MWC Los Angeles, in Partnership with CTIA, held October 22- 24 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). Over 60% of attendees held senior-level positions, including nearly 2,000 CEOs, who gathered to launch global societies into the era of Intelligent Connectivity.

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Under the theme of Intelligent Connectivity, MWC19 Los Angeles showcased the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data enabled by 5G. MWC also featured the mobile industry’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in driving gender inclusion with the Women4Tech program; positively impacting climate action, on the heels of the industry’s commitment to reach zero emissions; and through the Youth Mobile Festival in driving inclusive and quality education.

“It’s exciting to see MWC Los Angeles’ identity taking form as a leading event in the region,” said John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd. “This year’s theme has again marked the importance of 5G; we are on the verge of the critical phase of unlocking infinite possibilities in connecting everyone and everything to a better future.”

Over three days, nearly 22,000 attendees from more than 100 countries gathered to create, debate and discuss the key trends shaping the mobile industry and the wider ecosystem, including over 225 media and industry analysts reporting the many developments coming out of the event.

Renowned Industry Leaders Took the Stage

With nearly 70 hours of program content and 380 speakers, the conference program highlighted themes including 5G, Disruptive Innovation, Everything Policy, Immersive Content and IoT. Keynote sessions featured CEOs and senior executives from a range of leading organizations including CTIA, Boingo, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, GeSI, GSMA, HP Enterprise, Intel Corporation, the Los Angeles Mayor, Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nokia, OpenTable, Refinery29, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, Viacom and Warner Bros.

The event show floor featured exhibitions with the latest, cutting edge technologies, 5G stages featuring speakers on 5G security and entertainment, competitions, pitching events and much more. The GSMA Innovation City returned to Los Angeles with 41 demonstrations on the latest consumer and smart city uses cases.

A Platform for Collaboration

MWC Los Angeles serves as a platform for organizations to collaborate and launch new business ventures. Participating companies represented a growing number of sectors forming part of the 5G era of Intelligent Connectivity including Altair Semiconductor, AMD, Amazon, ARM, BadVR, Bank of America, ARM, CBRS Alliance, Cisco, DARPA, Ericsson, Fujitsu Network Communications, Gemalto, G+D Mobile Security, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, HCL Technologies, JMA Wireless, KORE Wireless, Nvidia, Mastercard, Motorola Mobility, Nokia, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sprint, Tech Data, Vodafone, Verizon and Xfinity.

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) held the Spectrum Collaboration Challenge (SC2) Championship Event at MWC Los Angeles. GatorWings won the three-year competition designed to use AI to address spectrum scarcity. For more information on SC2, visit www.SpectrumCollaborationChallenge.com.

Further, the United States Department of Defense used the MWC stage to announce it will issue a draft Request for Proposals on 5G technology in November and 5G testing and experimentation will start at four military bases. For more information, visit www.defense.gov.

4YFN Previews the Future

A highlight of MWC Los Angeles, the 4YFN Startup event, brought together more than 130 startups and exhibitors and 200 investors, representing nearly $2.5 billion in capital available for investments, to form new ventures. 4YFN Investors Club Partner Expert Dojo organized over 500 meetings during its Investors Festival, while 4YFN Community Club Partner Sprockit produced a media and entertainment program on the 4YFN Stage, powered by Karix. Dashmote was the winner of the 2019 4YFN Los Angeles Award. For more information on 4YFN, visit www.4yfn.com/los-angeles/.

Women4Tech Advances Gender Equality

Women4Tech, a program designed to address the persistent gender gap in female representation in the mobile industry, offered attendees the Women4Tech Summit, speed coaching and networking events, and a discussion panel at 4YFN. Women4Tech Summit speakers hailed from companies including AT&T, Bank of America, Facebook, Google, Misha Nonoo, amongst others.

YoMo Inspires Tomorrow’s Leaders

The Youth Mobile Festival (YoMo) opened its doors to a record-breaking 14,000 area students and over 1,000 educators and exhibitors from organizations inspiring youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and design, and math (STEAM) subjects. A highlight of YoMo Los Angeles this year included the LA Promise Fund's annual summit Hello Future! bringing together thousands of young people, with today's most disruptive entrepreneurs, tech innovators and brands.

Across the three days, YoMo showcased over 2,100 hours of inspiring and engaging STEAM content through hands-on and interactive activities delivered by partners and exhibitors including Entertainment Alliance, Kore, Road Tennis Society, Samsung and Vodafone Americas Foundation.

“On behalf of the GSMA, I’d like to thank Mayor Eric Garcetti, the city of Los Angeles and the LACC for their collaboration, and our event partner, CTIA for their part in developing a world-class event,” continued Hoffman. “We thank our member operators and the wider ecosystem who actively support MWC events during a time when mobile is critical to so many industries and billions of people worldwide."

The GSMA announced MWC 2020 will return to Los Angeles and will take place in the LACC from October 28 - 30. For more information on MWC Los Angeles, please visit www.mwclosangeles.com.

Note to editor: Figures represent the number of unique individual attendees at the event, including delegates, exhibitors, contractors and media; it does not represent the total number of entries to the event.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

About CTIA

CTIA® (www.ctia.org) represents the U.S. wireless communications industry and the companies throughout the mobile ecosystem that enable Americans to lead a 21st century connected life. The association's members include wireless carriers, device manufacturers, suppliers, as well as apps and content companies. CTIA vigorously advocates at all levels of government for policies that foster continued wireless innovation and investment. The association also coordinates the industry's voluntary best practices, hosts educational events that promote the wireless industry, and co-produces the industry's leading wireless tradeshow. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.

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Contact information

Media:
For the GSMA:
Alicia Bardaro
ABardaro@webershandwick.com
617.520.7015

Ivette López
ilopez@gsma.com
678.429.5066

GSMA Press Office
pressoffice@gsma.com