Facebook founder and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton to attend Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

Barcelona (CNA).- 95,000 visitors, 2,000 more than in 2015, are expected to attend the next Mobile World Congress (MWC), to be held in Barcelona from the 22^nd to the 25^th of February. The fair, which is considered the most important in the mobile sector, will count Google, Samsung, Sony and LG, to name a few, amongst its 2,100 exhibitors. Apple will, once again, be the most notable absentee. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will feature, for the third year in a row, as one of the congress’most high-profile speakers and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton will take part in a round table to discuss the implementation of wireless technology in the automotive sector. 160 government delegates and 4,000 journalists from all over the world will also attend the fair, which will take place amid extra security measures due to the terrorist attacks which occurred in Paris in November.

“We are very pleased that Google will have a main role once again”stated MWC’s director, John Hoffman. Although the fair will include the presence of giants from the sector, such as Samsung, LG, Sony and Vodafone, Apple will again be the most notable absentee.

Besides Zuckerberg and Hamilton, the speakers whom are likely to attract the most visitorattention are Ford’s President and CEO, Mark Fields, General Electric’s Digital Head Officer, William Ruh, MasterCard’s President, Ann Cairns, Intel Corporations’ CEO, Brian Krzanich and Getty Images’CEO, Dawn Airey.  

Graphene, 5G and the Internet of Things

MWC 2016 will dedicate an entire pavilion to graphene, which is known as “the future’s material”. Graphene is expected to revolutionise the mobile industry due to its qualities and potential usages. 

The congress will also focus on the latest novelties in mobile phones, tablets and wearables, which are getting more aesthetically pleasing and include new functions, some of them related to health issues. The MWC will also centre on the Internet of Things, which allows the user to have their house, car and other possessions connected and which are able to be controlled from one single device. In this vein, the congress will pay special attention to the 5G network, which is “super important for the Internet of Things”due to its “speed and flexibility”, explained CSS Insight’s Research Director, Ben Wood. 

More security and better access to the fair

MWC 2016 will be held amid extra security measures, due to the terrorist attacks which occurred in Paris in November. For the first time, all the visitors’identity will be checked and a police office will be set up within the Gran Via enclosure, the area where the congress takes place. 

For the first time, the new L9 line of Barcelona’s underground will stop in the Gran Via area, which will make access to the congress quicker and easier.