Key trends and takeaways from MWC

After a whirlwind week at Mobile World Congress (MWC), it’s time to pause, catch our breath and reflect. 

MWC is always a lot to take in: it’s a full-on four-day event where we engage with customers, partners and colleagues, at the same time as learning more about what’s happening in the wider industry.

In his welcome keynote, Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, also reminded us that MWC is no longer confined to one industry’s echo chamber. He noted that over half of last year’s attendees were from outside the mobile ecosystem. So it’s clear that as our world becomes more interconnected, multiple sectors will need to work more closely together.

In this context, three key trends stood out to me at this year’s show as having a significant impact on the future of connectivity…

The rise and rise of the IoT ecosystem

The ever-expanding Internet of Things was impossible to ignore at this year’s event. From the Samsung Galaxy Ring to Xiaomi’s electric car, we saw connectivity taken to new levels. But there was one big question on our minds: how do we manage the diversity and quantity of all these new devices?

Massive IoT refers to the Internet of Things on an unprecedented scale – and conversations this week reinforced that ongoing technological advancements including eSIMs (embedded SIM cards), LPWAN, and 5G networks, will be crucial in developing massive IoT projects worldwide. 

Innovation in eSIM

With consumers embracing everything the connected world has to offer, from smart homes to autonomous cars, all eyes were on eSIM innovations and applications. In fact, eSIM had its own dedicated summit to explore how this technology could enhance connectivity for people and objects in the digital age. 

From streamlined subscription activation to device upgrades and repairs, eSIMs deliver unprecedented flexibility, convenience and scalability. In recent months the mobile ecosystem has seen the rise of digitally native players outside of the telecommunications space, seizing the eSIM opportunity in the travel sector. Previously, those traveling abroad had to pay high roaming fees, struggle to find a local SIM card, or rely on sparse and unsecured WIFI networks to get connectivity.

eSIM offers a simple way to overcome these situations by downloading a temporary local subscription that gives access to gigabytes of valuable and affordable data, SMS and voice calls. Over the next few years we can be sure that we will see significant innovation in this space to improve the user experience.

Early preparations for a post-quantum world

While there was a lot to be excited about at MWC, there was also a growing sense of nervousness around the emergence of quantum computers – powerful machines that will be able to crack traditional encryption methods.

Most industry executives we spoke to recognised that action needs to be taken now to protect communications security. We saw a big focus on post quantum cryptography (PQC) throughout the halls of the event – from demos of quantum-resistant algorithms deployed on AMD technology, to an industry panel debate on quantum-as a service. There was significant interest in our post-quantum cryptography (PCQ) SIM cards, designed to protect user privacy from future threats.

Preparations for a post-quantum world reflects one of the key takeaways for me at this year’s MWC: the world is moving fast and we need to stay ahead. By prioritising security, reliability and simplicity, we can build trust in our connected world and meet the needs of consumers and businesses in their everyday lives.