Mayor of Barcelona states that the city is using new technology to improve citizens’ quality of life

Brussels (ACN).- The Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, stated at the GSMA Mobile 360 Conference in Brussels that the Catalan capital is increasingly “using mobile technologies to meet the needs of its citizens”, because this is one of his “main priorities”. The Conference, which took place this Thursday in the European capital, brings together representatives of the European Commission, regulatory institutions as well as mobile operators and companies such as Telefónica, Orange, IMB and Ericsson amongst others. 

During his speech, Trias noted how Barcelona’s position as being the Mobile World Capital “is helping the city to develop a new economic framework for the future, which will make the city a business centre that will stimulate economic recovery and promote entrepreneurial talent”. For the part eight years Barcelona has hosted the Mobile World Congress – the world’s largest event dedicated to mobile technology – which last year attracted 70,000 people, 1,500 companies and made more than $300 million in revenue.

Mobile World Hub to transform the world’s mobile economy

The Mayor also highlighted that through Barcelona’s role as being the Mobile World Capital, it also has a Mobile World Hum scheme that develops various innovate technology policies that promote the use of mobile technology in society in order to improve citizens’ wellbeing and quality of life.

Trias revealed some of the main technological advancements that are being developed. One of which is the mWallet which enables users to use their Smartphone as a virtual wallet and pay for items on the high street. Barcelona’s public and commercial services are currently in the process of adapting this state of the art scheme. 

He also mentioned the recent launch of apparkB which enables citizens of Barcelona to pay for parking spaces using their mobile devices without having to go to a meter. Users get an alert when their parking time is running out and are able add more time if they so wish.

“Working as the Mobile World Capital, in conjunction with the GSMA, all these new projects will be able to become a reality”, Trias concluded. He noted the city’s ability to collaborate with other “companies and cities around the world to successfully develop the mobile industry”.

GSMA Mobile 360 – to explore smart public policy worldwide

The one day conference bought together policy and industry leaders to explore the technological opportunities that can be used to help the EU achieve its 2020 growth, innovation and sustainability goals. The event aimed to explore examples of innovation within high tech cities both within the EU and those worldwide in order to establish how smart public policy can contribute to the development of society. It was inaugurated by Vice President of the European Commission for Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, and included speeches from industry specialists.