By Gloria Trujillo, SIM Group Director, GSMA

The industry goal of maximising the number of network connections and connected devices means, among other things, prioritising the technology that will make the most impact. One such element that has been a key and consistent enabler of digital services over recent years is the eSIM. eSIM will play a crucial role achieving ubiquitous connectivity – a circumstance the market has been waiting on for over a  decade. Its many advantages over the conventional plastic SIM are making it a staple feature in enterprise IoT applications, and as a result demand is soaring. Confidence on the consumer device side is also promising; research from GSMAi estimates that there will be 1 billion eSIM smartphone connections by 2025 and by 2028, over 50% of smartphone connections will use eSIM.

The challenge the market now faces is ensuring this technology can be produced at scale, operates securely and meets the needs of a dynamic IoT ecosystem characterised by a diversity of devices with various connectivity needs. Fundamentally it also means ensuring the technology is deployed – and in operation – across the globe. This includes China, which is one of the few countries yet to include eSIM in smartphones. To help meet this challenge, the industry convened at The Power of eSIM technology summit at MWC Shanghai 2023. Bringing together some of the most influential players from across China and wider Asian market, the event sought to unite the wider industry behind common approaches to capitalize on market potential.

Speakers pointed to a number of existing industry-wide initiatives which had already helped in accelerating growth. Perhaps the most important being the creation of the three bespoke specifications for consumer, IoT and M2M markets. These have been essential in drawing support from key OEMs such as Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Nokia and Sony, to name but a few. Outside of hardware, the remote provisioning of subscriptions inherent to eSIM has spurred the growth of other areas of the ecosystem, such as connectivity-as-a-service (CaaS). Speaking at the event, Red Tea Mobile founder and CEO Hui Jin underscored how eSIM had made it far easier for OEMs across the globe to produce connected devices, whatever the geography may be. He went on to explain how his company had achieved success providing connectivity services in a number of applications such as mobile payment, MNO user engagement and the provision of CaaS to connected vehicles. For example, their eSIM solution, T-Box, automatically downloads available MNO data remotely when devices reach their destination, making it easy for vehicle owners to select their operator, regardless of location.

The eSIM solution provider, Valid, reported similar successes in resolving interoperability challenges the industry faces. Here, Product Marketing Manager Christian Fernández Carrillo drew attention to their solution, Valid Mobile, works with both traditional SIM and eSIM. Tongxin Micro’s Executive Vice President, John Zou, explained on how his company produce eUICCs produced which work hand- in- hand with Valids’ remote SIM provisioning platform. Together, they are enabling eSIM POS terminals and transforming everyday commerce. eSIM POS terminals simplify payment for retailers by allowing them to set-up and pick from a range of connectivity options without having to physically switch SIM. Their mobile connectivity also means that such POS terminals can be used in almost any location and are not confined to the boundaries of fixed line connectivity. For OEMs, the eSIM is good news as well, for it greatly simplifies the production process, helping  them on their mission to achieve wider economies of scale.

In addition to the creation of the three eSIM architectures, the GSMA has undertaken several initiatives to increase collaboration and help the market reach its potential. For example, the GSMA eSIM Discovery Service is the industry-specified and universally-recognised method for remote eSIM provisioning. This standardised way of activating eSIM subscriptions makes life easier for consumers and more cost-effective for operators and the wider mobile ecosystem. The GSMA also provides the eUICC Identity Scheme (eIS), and the eUICC Security Assurance (eSA), which provides both industry essential identity service and lay the foundation to protect consumers and ensure industry confidence in eUICCs. These are, of course, all signs of a mature market that the industry has confidence in – the next challenge is communicating this to enterprise and consumers alike.

For more information, please visit gsma.com/esim and gsma.com/services/esim

MWC Shanghai 2023 welcomed nearly 37,000 delegates from 115 countries and territories

30 June 2023, Shanghai: After three days of discussion, debate and networking, the GSMA has concluded MWC Shanghai 2023, convening nearly 37,000 attendees from 115 countries and territories, including policymakers and business leaders from the mobile ecosystem and beyond.  

“MWC Shanghai 2023 has been truly inspirational and we are so grateful for the close collaboration and support from Cyberspace Administration of China; Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and China Broadnet, our partners, exhibitors and sponsors. We sincerely thank them for helping us deliver MWC Shanghai 2023. It is their level of energy and support that ensured we were able to deliver a world-class event that exceeded our expectations,” said John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd.

MWC Shanghai 2023 in numbers:

Asia Mobile Awards (AMOs)

The AMOs are determined by a panel of judges representing the GSMA. The winners of the AMOs for Best Smartphone in Asia, Disruptive Device Innovation in Asia, and the 5G Industry Challenge categories were announced during the Technology Driving Change keynote. This year’s winners are:

Upcoming events

MWC Shanghai is part of the MWC series of events, held by the GSMA alongside the M360 series of events. Join us as we continue our journey to unlock the full power of connectivity at MWC Las Vegas, which is scheduled for 26-28 September 2023 followed by MWC Kigali, 17-19 October 2023. The M360 series will continue with M360 APAC in Seoul between 7-8 September, followed by M360 MENA in Riyadh from 6-7 November.

Next year’s MWC Shanghai 2024 will take place 26-28 June 2024. News and updates from MWC Shanghai, as well as official event photography, are available on the event website press zone.

-ENDS-

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

Media Contacts

GSMA Press Office
[email protected]

6月28日，MWC上海正式开幕。在大会主论坛上，中国移动董事长发表题为《把握科技创新浪潮 共谱融合发展新篇》的主旨演讲。

杨杰指出，科技创新一直是信息通信业发展的源泉。本届大会以“时不我待-明日科技，将至已至”为主题，深刻体现了新一轮科技革命对产业发展带来的重大而深远的影响。围绕科技创新，杨杰分享了三方面的思考体会。

信息通信业正迎来新一轮科技创新浪潮

纵观全球信息通信业的科技创新历程，杨杰认为大致可以划分为“三个阶段”。一是策源创新阶段。从20世纪中期到20世纪70年代末，信息通信领域实现了许多从0到1的策源性创新，“图灵机”“香农信息论”等基础理论，电子计算机、互联网、光纤技术、蜂窝移动通信等原创技术先后涌现，不仅标志着现代信息通信业的诞生，也为后续发展奠定了关键的理论和技术基础。二是迭代创新阶段。从20世纪80年代到21世纪初，信息通信技术快速发展、不断演进升级，实现了从1G到4G的产业化、规模化发展；在此期间，骨干网络的带宽每6个月增长一倍，计算机和手机等终端的运算能力每18个月翻一番，移动互联网产业蓬勃兴起，为全球数十亿人带来科技创新的红利。三是融合创新阶段。近年来,5G、云计算、大数据、人工智能等新一代信息技术快速发展，形成多种技术之间相互支撑、齐头并进的链式变革，呈现有机融合、系统创新的发展态势,并加速融入经济社会民生各领域、全过程，催生自动驾驶、无人工厂、元宇宙等新业态、新模式，掀起了新一轮科技创新浪潮。

以融合创新引领开创产业发展的新境界

杨杰指出，新阶段新趋势，既孕育了更加广阔的发展空间，也对产业转变发展模式提出了更高要求。信息通信业要主动把握机遇、寻求突破，着力推动“三个融合”，力争在新一轮科技创新浪潮中发挥更大的作用、实现更快的发展。一是推动CT、IT、DT技术融合。经过多年发展，CT、IT、DT三类技术形成了各具特点，且相对独立的技术路线。随着全社会数字化转型的不断深化，单一技术已难以解决大规模、复杂性问题。一方面，对于网、云、数、智、安、边、端、链等关键共性技术，要综合运用标准驱动、开源共享等多种模式，推动这些技术在理论、标准、架构等方面的协同互促，实现CT技术稳定性、可靠性与IT、DT技术灵活性、开放性的优势互补，提升新一代信息技术的整体效能。另一方面，对于6G技术的演进，要聚焦逼近“香农极限”的下一代通信技术重点领域，加强基础理论研究，突破新型网络架构、通感算一体、智慧内生等关键技术，持续深化新一代信息技术融合创新。二是推动连接、算力、能力服务融合。随着海量数据的不断涌现，面向数据感知、传送、存储、处理全环节提供一体化支撑服务，已成为全社会的普遍需求。特别是当前AI大模型的兴起，进一步激发了对高价值数据、高性能算力、高标准算法的迫切需求，推动信息基础设施和信息服务体系向连接、算力、能力深度融合的方向加速演进。一方面，要将算力网络作为推进信息基础设施创新的重要方向，强化算网大脑、算力路由等核心技术攻关，丰富智算、超算等多样化算力资源，促进算网体系架构、应用服务不断演进。另一方面，要将能力中台作为赋能全社会创新的重要载体，特别是面向全社会广泛关注的通用人工智能领域，依托中台沉淀汇聚大模型训练所需要的文本、代码等数据资源以及算法工具，实现更大程度的能力开放、知识共享，加速通用人工智能的创新发展。三是推动新一代信息技术与生产、生活、治理应用融合。为充分发挥新一代信息技术的潜能，信息通信业需要加强与政府部门、各行各业的协同联动，面向生产、生活、治理各领域，尽快形成一批具有规模效应的示范应用，有效解决全社会数字化转型过程中面临的关键问题。一方面，要推动更大范围的融合创新。深入参与各领域数字化发展的顶层规划和政策咨询，加强与产业链上下游、行业企业的联合研发，推进信息技术标准与产业标准的有效衔接，持续拓展新一代信息技术应用边界。另一方面，要推动更深层次的融合创新。以市场需求为牵引，加速新一代信息技术深度融入研发设计、生产制造、经营管理、销售服务等关键环节，助力传统产业提升生产效率、突破发展瓶颈。

各方携手汇聚产业高质量发展的新动能

杨杰表示，深入推进“三个融合”，需要充分汇聚各方力量，围绕重点领域和关键环节紧密协作，由点及面带动产业发展取得新突破，为此他提出三点倡议。一是共同推动5G应用的纵深拓展。强化5G融合应用、示范项目的国际合作交流和最佳实践推广，加快多模、多频、多形态智能终端研发，打造丰富多彩的5G产品服务，促进5G在全球的快速普及。二是共同推动技术的演进升级。充分借鉴网络创新发展经验，推动全球在算力网络的技术路线、演进方向等方面达成共识，加快算力网络从理念构建走向产业实践；同时，聚焦6G发展，强化理论研究、技术攻关、场景探索的跨国、跨行业合作，形成全球统一的6G标准和产业体系。三是共同推动能力的互通共享。搭建联合实验室、开源社区、能力中台等协作载体，深化网络、算力、平台互通，加强共性技术、专业知识共享，探索建立数据流通、信息安全、隐私保护等方面的合作机制，构建共生共赢的产业生态。

在演讲的最后，杨杰引用中国古代先哲的名言“积土而为山，积水而为海”，表示任何一项伟大事业，都是不懈努力、接续奋斗的结果。中国移动愿携手社会各界，凝聚创新动能，共攀科技高峰，不断开创产业高质量发展的新境界，为人类文明进步和社会发展作出新的更大贡献。

The two companies jointly demonstrated dual mode capability running at full throughput rates across both bands

MWC Shanghai, China – Wednesday 28th June 2023 – Picocom, the 5G Open RAN baseband semiconductor and software specialist, and Kiwi Communications Technology (KiwiCT), a leader in 4G/5G wireless access communication system solutions, are jointly showcasing the first fully functional 4G+5G dual mode small cell product at MWC Shanghai 2023. The DYND-6100 small cell unit, designed by KiwiCT, is powered by Picocom’s PC802 PHY SoC for 5GNR/LTE small cells.

Oliver Davies, Picocom VP Marketing, said: “Just a few months ago at MWC Barcelona we demonstrated the dual mode capability of Picocom’s PC802. Here at MWC Shanghai we are delighted to show the industry’s first fully functional 4G+5G dual mode small cell with our customer KiwiCT. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work behind the scenes by Picocom and KiwiCT, and we’re excited to showcase publicly the realisation of our efforts.”

picocom

Ker Zhang, KiwiCT Vice President, said: “We are pleased with the specification and functionality of Picocom’s silicon and software. That, combined with the company’s strong team and design ethos, has enabled KiwiCT to develop its Picocom powered small cell products rapidly. We are delighted to jointly showcase our 4G+5G DYND-6100 small cell at MWC Shanghai. We will continue to work in close partnership with Picocom as we bring our DYND-6100 small cell product to volume production in Q3 2023.”

The joint end-to-end dual mode small cell demonstration features KiwiCT’s 4G+5G DYND-6100, powered by Picocom’s PC802 PHY SoC, connected to multiple commercial mobile phones, with transmission throughput rates being monitored live via analytics software running on the phones.

The Picocom PC802 is shipping in mass production quantities with mature software for distributed units, radio units, and integrated small cells. PC802 supports 4G LTE and 5G NR and can run them concurrently on the same device.

Picocom and KiwiCT are at MWC Shanghai 2023 in N2 – Executive Meeting Room EMR06. To arrange a meeting demo with Picocom and/or KiwiCT at MWCS, email [email protected].

For more information on Picocom’s PC802 5G small cell SoC, visit picocom.com/products/socs/pc802.

For more information on KiwiCTs DYND-6100 4G+5G dual mode small cell, contact: [email protected].

–ends–

PR Ref: PCOMPR017

About Picocom

Picocom is a semiconductor company that designs and markets open RAN standard-compliant baseband SoCs and carrier-grade software products for 5G small cell infrastructure. The company, founded in 2018, has R&D engineering sites in Hangzhou and Beijing, China, and Bristol, UK. Picocom founding members have significant experience and track record in leading teams designing baseband infrastructure products. Picocom is a proud Small Cell Forum and O-RAN Alliance wireless industry association member.

For more information, visit www.picocom.com.

About Kiwi Communication Technology

Kiwi Communication Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen), established in June 2020, was lead-invested by Tangren Technology Group. Its R&D centre is in Bao’an District, Shenzhen, and its sales and operation centre is in Beijing Fengtai Science and Technology Park, China. It is a leading core product provider developing 4G/5G wireless access communication system solutions.

The founders and key members of KiwiCT have comprehensive technology experience in 4G and 5G small cell products and markets. They have led teams on 3G, 4G and 5G small cell products and system solutions. KiwiCT has accumulated many core technologies in high-efficiency small cell software, RF systems and circuits, and digital signal processing technologies.

For more information, visit www.kiwict.com.

Picocom Company Contact
Oliver Davies
VP Marketing
Picocom
[email protected]
+44 7973 659 231

Media Contact
Richard Howson
Temono for Picocom
[email protected]
+44 7833 693 862

MWC Shanghai convenes global leaders from the mobile ecosystem at the SNIEC to celebrate the first fully in-person iteration of the event since 2019

28 June 2023, Shanghai: GSMA MWC Shanghai, theleading connectivity event in the Asia Pacific region, opened its doors today at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). Taking place across three days, MWC Shanghai 2023 marks the event’s 10th anniversary and convenes leaders from the global telecoms ecosystem to explore the key trends impacting the future of connectivity.

“MWC Shanghai is the place where business gets done, and I cannot wait to see what this week holds in store,” said John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd. during the ceremony. “In 10 years, our industry has come close to doubling the number of customers that we serve, from 3.2 billion to 5.4 billion, and China has been a big part of this growth. As you walk around MWC Shanghai, you will see the theme of Velocity reflected across the event, from conference to exhibition and everywhere in between.”

“An event of this size cannot take place without close partnership and collaboration. We are deeply touched by the unwavering commitment of returning and new exhibitors, showcasing the latest innovations that benefit society,” said Sihan Bo Chen, Head of Greater China, GSMA. “A warm thank you and welcome to all the ministries, government departments, event partners and sponsors, exhibitors and, of course, our attendees.”

During the event’s opening ceremony, John Hoffman and Sihan Bo Chen were honoured to be joined on stage to open the event by dignitaries including H.E Zhuang Rongwen, Minister of Cyberspace Administration of China; H.E Zhao Zhiguo, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Industry of Information and Technology; H.E Li Zheng, Vice Mayor, Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Mr. Yang Jie, Chairman, China Mobile; Mr. Ke Ruiwen, Chairman & CEO, China Telecom; Mr. Liu Liehong, Chairman & CEO, China Unicom.

Celebrating innovation 

The Asian Mobile Awards (AMOs) are the Asian connectivity industry’s most prestigious accolade which recognise, honour and celebrate the individuals, teams, organisations and partnerships that strive to better the world through connectivity. During the MWC Shanghai opening ceremony, the GSMA announced Liu Lie Hong,Chairman & CEO of China Unicom, as the winner of the 2023 Outstanding Contribution to Asia Mobile Industry award, and Xu Ziyang, Executive Director and President of ZTE, as the winner of the 2022 award. The winners of the Best Smartphone in Asia, Disruptive Device Innovation in Asia, and the 5G Industry Challenge categories, will be announced during keynote 3 between 10:00-11:00am on Thursday 29th June. 

The conference’s three keynote sessions will explore the next stage of digital transformation, the rise of digital-first networks, and the key technologies that are driving change. A full agenda of speaking sessions can be found here. Across five halls attendees have the opportunity to explore a mix of brand-new and familiar zones that celebrate innovation. For example, the all-new Digital Shanghai zone in Hall N5 which celebrates the city of Shanghai and its international technology vision, as well as the innovations and achievements of Chinese industry.

Visitors to Digital Shanghai will discover how Shanghai is helping to empower high-quality economic development, improved living standards, and efficient city operations with the use of next-generation information technology. Enterprises participating in the new space include Zhongshan Hospital, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Information Investment (SII), China State Construction, INESA, Dahan Tricom, Shanghai International Automobile City, General Plan, West Well, and many more.

Elsewhere, the GSMA Pavilion will showcase the latest mobile innovations with demos and immersive experiences. This includes GSMA Open Gatewaydesigned to provide developers with universal access to operator networks. This initiative is supported by almost 30 mobile network operators (MNO), with China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom representing the most recent signatories following a signing ceremony on Monday 26 June with Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA.

Located in Hall N3, 5G IN, a GSMA Global Foundry project brings together mobile operators, start-ups and investors to explore the digital ecosystem for new disruptors, brave pioneers and ground-breaking business models. Visitors to the space will learn how 5G is shaping the economy and redefining society through panel sessions focused on the space’s three themes of 5G City, Metaverse and New Tech. Follow the GSMA website to download “5G Business Model Innovation & Development Whitepaper”, a joint report by GSMA 5G IN and China’s 5GAIA (5G Applications Industry Array) which will be available to download on 29 June 2023. It will outline the best practices of 5G business models for innovation in consumer and vertical markets. A new 5G report created by GSMA Intelligence and GTI, “Unleashing New Value with Innovative 5G Technology” that focuses on how innovation in 5G technology can create new value for consumers, enterprises and society globally is available to download here.

Find the latest information and news live from MWC Shanghai on our Press Zone.

-END-

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

Media Contacts

GSMA Press Office 
[email protected]

Blog by Peter Jarich, Head of GSMA Intelligence

Back in December, I was discussing with a customer over dinner when travel to China would open up. They suggested sometime this spring. I was dubious. I was also wrong.

The speed with which China has opened up to international visitors has been nothing short of amazing. It’s not surprising, then, that excitement is running high for this year’s in-person MWC Shanghai. As always, the GSMA Intelligence analyst team will be there to lead sessions, share insights and meet the ecosystem. Please do reach out if you’d like to meet.

And, as always, we have some thoughts on what to expect.

With eight regarded as the luckiest number in Chinese culture, here are my top eight predictions for MWC Shanghai 2023:

  1. 5G-Advanced comes into focus: For several years, we’ve been saying that 5G standalone (SA) launches need to gain momentum. With SA in 25 markets at the end of Q1 2023, progress is being made, but there’s still a way to go. In the meantime, having massively scaled its deployment of 5G, China is planning for what’s next. As a logical steppingstone from 5G to 6G, 5G-Advanced is it.
  2. mmWave 5G going global: At the end of Q1 2023, high-band spectrum accounted for 18% of 5G assignments, with 23 network launches across the 26 GHz, 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands.  So, why do I expect mmWave to be a key MWC Shanghai theme? Again, after the first wave of deployments across Asia in the past few years,  the region will be looking to what’s next for the technology and, as a way to keep up with traffic demand, mmWave is important. Add inprogress with enterprise 5G use cases where mmWave can play a role, together with the importance of the device ecosystem (including Chinese OEMs) in driving forward mmWave 5G ‘s development, and it all becomes clearer.
  3. Verticals and monetisation: Chinese mobile operators support an array of enterprise 5G use cases, with China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom claiming more than 35,000 commercial 5G projects across a range of verticals. With B2B sales being one of the market’s leading strategies for 5G monetisation, expect to see these B2B efforts garner plenty of attention, including use-case highlights and private wireless innovations.
  4. AI everywhere: Artificial intelligence (AI) has played a role in telecoms for years, particularly in network and service automation. However, in 2023, generative AI is all the buzz, driven by the incredible potential of tools such as ChatGPT to democratise AI – bringing its power to the masses. Of course, generative AI also brings a myriad of new telecoms use cases such as customer support, code generation and smart proposal generation, with everyone trying to determine which hold the most value and how best to leverage them.
  5. Metaverse on the mind: What happens when you combine low-latency mmWave 5G, AI and the quest for 5G monetisation? The metaverse. Hype around the topic has gone through some ups and downs, but three things about the metaverse are clear. It will (one day) transform the way we interact with the internet and one another. Operators are considering multiple strategies for monetising it. And, in the near-term, enterprise applications represent the best opportunity for momentum given the return on investment of use cases such as remote training, collaboration and digital twins.
  6. Foundational sustainability: When we asked operators about their network transformation priorities for 2023, there was a clear winner – sustainability. It was a big topic at MWC Barcelona. It will be a big topic at MWC Las Vegas, where the GSMA Intelligence team will host a summit on the theme (contact me for details). There’s no question that it will be a major topic at MWC Shanghai, where we will no doubt see plenty of solutions for energy efficiency. What I’ll be looking for, though, are solutions that go beyond energy-efficient hardware: new business and service models, new network architectures (including cloud and edge) and highlights of how mobile can drive the sustainability of other industries.
  7. Insights beyond China: I’ve been framing my thoughts on MWC Shanghai largely in terms of China’s impact on mobile. That misses something; MWC Shanghai is about more than China. Event themes, keynotes and conference sessions cover topics with relevance beyond  China. Chinese operators have insights valuable for counterparts in other regions. Chinese suppliers have a real interest in the success of mobile in those regions. And, of course, the technologies and trends I’ve already mentioned here will be impactful globally. MWC Shanghai may take place in China, but its impact stretches much further afield.

If you’re worried that I just created some bad luck by listing out seven (not eight) themes, don’t worry; I’ve got one more – energy. I highlighted above that the excitement for this year’s MWC Shanghai is palpable. I’d expected as much from the size and engagement of the crowds at MWC Barcelona. This is also reflected in my pre-show discussions, and the fact that I’m going to send 50% more analysts than originally intended to keep up with demand for meetings. 

I haven’t mentioned that China is the world’s largest mobile market with an incredible record of 5G innovation. If you’ve read this far, you already know that. But, when combined with the pent-up demand for in-person connections, it all conspires to guarantee an exciting, insightful and productive event – register to attend MWC Shanghai here.

Global initiative to help mobile industry, developers and cloud providers collaborate on development of universalnetwork APIs now supported across all continents with29 mobile network operators, representing around 60% of mobile connections worldwide

26 June 2023, Shanghai: The GSMA Open Gateway initiative is continuing to gather pace with three more of the world’s largest operators, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, now signed-up to the global industry framework designed to help accelerate digital services and mobile apps.

GSMA Open Gateway is an industry-wide initiative tohelp developers and cloud providers collaborate with mobile operators through a framework of open network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs), designed to provide universal access to operator networks across all continents spanning from North America to Australia, Norway to Argentina. By doing so the industry will be able to create, enhance and bring new digital servicesand immersive technologies to market faster and to a wider global customer base.

At a joint signing ceremony ahead of MWC Shanghai, the three operators China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom demonstrated their commitment to collaborate on the open network API framework,meaning the initiative is now supported by 29 mobile network operators, representing around 60% of mobile connections worldwide.

The global initiative, which launched with eight proofs of concept in February, has already grown to 23. The APIsdeveloped through early adopter programmes cover everything from device location and SIM swap to combat online financial crime, through to Quality on Demand to deliver more immersive gaming experiences and enable drones to carry out data intensive missions safely.

Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, said,“Around the world, we’re gaining critical mass from east to west, north to south. China represents the largest 5G market in the world, so having China’s three largest operators committed to this initiative demonstrates its global significance and the strong business case itoffers. In the same way we helped harmonise mobile voice services and enable roaming 35 years ago, I believe GSMA Open Gateway offers the potential to deliver similar levels of significant change for digital services.”

“This is just the beginning, with operators already launching early adopter programmes, we will see more APIs in the coming year, creating new global markets, offering new services and new functionality. This will help unlock further value from 5G connectivity which will flow into the global economy and strengthen future investments, bringing transformational benefits of connectivity to all,” said Granryd.

Gao Tongqing, EVP, China Mobile, said, “China Mobile has been committed to opening up network capabilities and driving positive contributions to promoting the development of the digital economy. We are delighted to be part of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, which will help industry partners reach different mobile networks and a wider global audience, accelerate our immersive technology offerings to the market, help us innovate on digital products and services, and continue to meet customers’ aspirations for a better digital future, thereby empowering global economic development and social benefits.”

Li Jun, EVP, China Telecom, said, “Our priority is to ensure the best mobile experience for our customers, so the opportunity to participate in this leading mobile industry development is invaluable. We believe collaboration and common frameworks between mobile operators, developers and cloud providers will create new opportunities and drive forward new industries and experiences. We welcome the role that the GSMA is taking to pioneer greater interoperability in the new 5G digital economy and look forward to working with industry partners to drive success.”


Liang Baojun, EVP, China Unicom, said, “China Unicom has been paying attention to and spearheading open network capabilities. This Open Gateway initiative will play a crucial role in helping accelerate innovation in the telecoms industry and launch new opportunities for 5G and ultra-fast broadband connectivity. By creating an ecosystem in which the industry can provide federated network APIs, the initiative provides huge opportunities to accelerate new immersive communications services to the benefit of society and the global economy.”

-ends-

Notes to Editors:

About GSMA Open Gateway

GSMA Open Gateway is a framework of common network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) designed to provide universal access to operator networks for developers. Supported by 29 of the world’s largest and most innovative network operators, the move represents a paradigm shift in the way the telecoms industry designs and delivers services in an API economy world. 

GSMA Open Gateway will help developers and cloud providers enhance and deploy services more quickly across operator networks via single points of access to the world’s largest connectivity platform. This is achieved via common, northbound service APIs that simply expose mobile operators’ network capabilities within a consistent, interoperable and federated framework.

Signatories to the GSMA Open Gateway Memorandum of Understanding are America Movil, AT&T, Axiata, Bharti Airtel, BT Group, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, Du, e& Group, KDDI, KPN, KT, Liberty Global, MTN, Omantel, Orange, Singtel, Swisscom, STC, Telecom Argentina, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, TIM, Veon, Verizon and Vodafone.

Find out more at www.gsma.com/futurenetworks/gsma-open-gateway/

About GSMA
The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. 

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

Media Contacts:
GSMA Press Office
[email protected] 

It’s the week of MWC Shanghai 2023 and we cannot wait to welcome the mobile and digital industry to the halls of Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) 28-30 June 2023. We are looking forward to three days of learning, debates, discussion and networking. We are delighted to celebrate 10 years of MWC Shanghai this year and experience the latest in next-generation technologies.

Unmissable keynote sessions

Don’t miss the biggest names in connectivity on stage for our three keynotes, taking place in the Shanghai Ballroom 2 – 3 on Level 3 of the Kerry Hotel Pudong:

In addition, we look forward to welcoming over 200 speakers on stage throughout the event for three days of conference tracks, partner programmes, GSMA sessions and more. A full agenda of speaking sessions can be found here. Here is some key information to help you make the most of your time at MWC Shanghai.

Getting into and around the show

MWC Shanghai opens its doors from 9:00-17:00, 28-29 June; 9:00-16:00 30h June. Getting to the SNIEC couldn’t be easier, and suggested public transport routes can be found here.

Once you’ve arrived at the venue, follow these three steps for a seamless entry into MWC Shanghai:

  1. Get your Digital Access Pass ready on your Registration Account or your GSMA WeChat Account if you have one.
  2. Present your passport or travel permit (whichever you used to register for your pass) at the counter and have your photo taken.
  3. Use the digital badge (if from Mainland China) or printed badge provided to enter through the ID gate and discover everything MWC Shanghai has to offer.

Upon entry, a complimentary shuttle service will run every 5 minutes between Halls N1, N3 and N5 during the entirety of the event.

Accredited press attendees will also have access to a Media Centre located in Hall N2, which will provide a quiet space with Wi-Fi to work.

Networking events

Come and join us at these networking events which provide all pass holders the opportunity to celebrate the success of MWC Shanghai with speakers, exhibitors, corporate executives and entrepreneurs:

The GSMA will be running its Environmental Programme. We are proud to share that since 2015, MWC Shanghai has been certified carbon neutral. Delegates are encouraged to be as digital as possible throughout the event – both with their pass and how they access event info. We encourage attendees to bring their own water bottles and request cardboard cups instead of plastic ones.

MWC Shanghai is an unmissable platform to discover the latest thinking about the future of connectivity. If you haven’t already, you can register for your MWC Shanghai pass here.

25 June 2023, Shanghai: The GSMA today hosted a press conference ahead of MWC Shanghai 2023 led by the GSMA’s Mats Granryd, Director General; Lara Dewar, Chief Marketing Officer and Sihan Bo Chen, Head of Greater China. Now in its 10th year, MWC Shanghai will take place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) 28-30 June 2023, including nearly 300 exhibitors, sponsors and partners.  

The press conference is available to view on the MWC Shanghai Press Zone.

“Nothing beats MWC in person, and we are delighted to be back in Shanghai to celebrate 10 years, it’s a chance to see the latest connectivity solutions unveiled by our exhibitors and sponsors. As a technology hub in China, the world’s biggest mobile market, Shanghai is the natural host city for MWC in Asia. We are hugely grateful for the continued support of Shanghai and our partners and hosts,” said Mats Granryd.

At the press conference, the GSMA announced the expansion of the GSMA Open Gateway initiative with the addition of the world’s largest operators – China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. The GSMA Open Gateway is a global framework of common network Application Programmable Interfaces (APIs) designed to provide universal access to operator networks for developers. The framework is supported by nearly 30 mobile operators globally, representing around 60% of mobile connections.

MWC Shanghai highlights

During the press conference, the GSMA highlighted the dynamic agenda of MWC Shanghai including this year’s keynote sessions and conference tracks across five halls, where attendees will be able to explore a mix of brand-new zones and familiar favourites.

The Digital Shanghai Zone, a brand-new feature, will make its debut in Hall N5. The zone will showcase the innovations and achievements of Chinese industry and highlight Shanghai’s international technology vision. Our first-ever Future Ecosystem Hall in Hall N4will spotlight innovations from the wider mobile ecosystem.Chinese operatorswill showcase their partner portfolios and Lenovo is exhibiting for the first time joining exhibitors including Sky Limit Entertainment, Syrius Robotics Co. Ltd, CITC and Ruijie Networks.

The aptly-named Super Hall and the 5G IN start-up zone and stage were both also introduced as familiar favourites. The Super Hall will house exhibitors including China Mobile, China Telecom, ZTE, H3C and CICT; while 5G IN will welcome start-ups and investors and showcase how 5G is empowering the hottest new innovations.

Keynote speakers will include Yang Jie, Chairman of China Mobile; Ke Ruiwen, Chairman & CEO of China Telecom; Liu Lie Hong, Chairman & CEO of China Unicom; Meng Wanzhou, Deputy Chairwoman, Rotating Chairwoman & CFO of Huawei; Jim Cathey, CCO of Qualcomm; George Zhao, CEO, HONOR; Shen Ziyu, Chairman & CEO of Xingji Meizu Group and H.E. Teo Nie Ching, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital, Malaysia; Xu Ziyang, CEO of ZTE.

As part of the 5G Transformation track, attendees of MWC Shanghai can attend the 5G Futures Summit on Friday 30th June in the Pudong Ballroom 5 – 7 at the Kerry Hotel Pudong. They will hear Chinese mobile operators and technology innovators show how next-generation technologies, such as 5G mmWave, 5G-Advanced and IoT, can accelerate and create new business opportunities.

Discover the power of tomorrow’s technology, today

The theme of MWC Shanghai this year is ‘Velocity’. Over the course of the event, this theme will be woven across three key discussion and thought leadership tracks: 5G Transformation, exploring topics like 5G spectrum, monetisation and the path to 6G; Digital Everything, encompassing smart cities, digital nations and tech for good; and Reality+, which will delve into the metaverse, the future of social and gaming, and the next frontier of AI. 

You can watch the Press Conference on-demand and find out more information about MWC Shanghai on the MWC Shanghai Press Zone. If you haven’t already, register now for your MWC Shanghai pass.

-ENDS-

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today’s biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world’s largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events.

We invite you to find out more at gsma.com

Media Contacts

GSMA Press Office
[email protected]

数字经济正推动生产和生活方式的深刻变革，成为重塑经济结构、推动经济发展的关键力量。据世界经济论坛测算，2022年全球60%以上的GDP依赖于数字技术。数字化转型已经成为经济增长的强大引擎。

5G是实现数字社会的重要基础设施，还将助力AI扩展，使内容丰富的数据可以从网络边缘与其它设备及云端共享。5G和AI的融合和交织，将催生从消费者应用到众多行业场景的创新机遇，助力开启人与万物智能互联的新时代。

基于这一愿景，高通的技术和产品处于万物连接、企业数字化转型和关键行业趋势的交汇点。近年来，高通在中国生态系统的合作已经从手机扩展到汽车、PC、扩展现实（XR）、物联网、工业互联网等领域。

在汽车领域，数字化转型与汽车加速电气化相辅相成，引领全球汽车向网联、智能及高效率方向演进。高通与几乎全部主要汽车品牌开展合作，基于骁龙数字底盘所涵盖的丰富汽车解决方案，合力为用户提供更智能、更安全的驾乘体验。

XR作为下一代移动计算平台，将助力打造融合物理世界和数字世界的沉浸式体验，加速迈向元宇宙。高通为满足空间计算需求打造了多款骁龙XR平台，并助力生态系统推出了数十款XR商用设备。

工业互联网是5G、大数据、AI与实体经济深度融合的典型应用模式之一，也是支撑新一轮工业革命的重要基础。高通与中国合作伙伴一起，打造5G智慧工厂，并推动时间敏感网络和增强型超可靠低时延通信等技术创新，共创“智造”未来。

在即将开幕的上海世界移动通信大会（简称“MWC上海”）期间，高通公司首席商务官Jim Cathey将在大会首日“数字优先网络”主题演讲环节参与炉边会谈，并在GTI国际产业大会上发表主题演讲。此外，高通多位发言人将围绕5G-Advanced 及6G、毫米波、AI、XR等前沿技术变革话题带来精彩分享，敬请期待。

Subscribe for #MWC23 Updates