GSMA MWC LAS VEGAS 2022, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CTIA, MAKES ITS PREMIERE

28 September 2022, MWC Las Vegas: GSMA MWC Las Vegas, in partnership with CTIA, opens its doors today, bringing the North America edition of the MWC series to Las Vegas for the first time. Taking to the stage are some of the mobile operators in North America who have helped power the US and Canada as global leaders in 5G adoption, according to the latest Mobile Economy North America Report.

“A very warm welcome to everyone, it is wonderful to have the mobile ecosystem back together in Las Vegas. We’re looking forward to hearing global leaders and experts discuss how they’re addressing today’s challenges with innovations. Right now, 1 in 4 mobile connections in the US is a 5G connection. By 2030, 5G is expected to contribute $122 billion to GDP in the US,” said GSMA’s Director General, Mats Granryd.

5G Goes Mainstream

Today, there are 214 operators from 81 countries offering commercial 5G services. Across North America, the report shows that 5G will account for almost two-thirds of total mobile connections by 2025, the equivalent of nearly 280 million connections.

Mr Granryd commented, “Mobile connectivity brings endless potential to all industries, making possible partnerships between sectors. It has a significant enablement effect, but it is underused in energy-intensive industries like energy, transport, buildings and manufacturing. Mobile connectivity and smart technology could enable global savings of around 11 gigatonnes of carbon emissions by 2030, helping achieve net zero goals”.

The Mobile Economy North America Report 2022

This year’s report confirms mobile networks continue to play a vital role in economic recovery and the realization of green and digital transformation across North America. Momentum has been boosted by several factors, including economic recovery from the pandemic, rising 5G handset sales and overall marketing efforts. The report also highlights mobile connectivity’s role in contributing to the economy and social well-being.

Other Key Findings Include:

• The North American mobile ecosystem directly generated around $300 billion of economic value in 2021, with mobile operators accounting for the majority
• Mobile operators continue to innovate in addressing the digital divide, driving the industry’s contribution to multiple UN SDGs, including SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• In 2021, the mobile ecosystem directly employed more than 850,000 people in North America and supported another 1.4 million jobs indirectly
• In 2021, the mobile ecosystem contributed almost $110 billion to the funding of the public sector through consumer and operator taxes
• 5G set to overtake 4G in 2023 to become the dominant mobile technology in North America
• By 2025, smartphones will account for nearly 9 in 10 connections on average in North America
• North America is home to some of the world’s biggest consumers of mobile data
• As 5G rises, 4G declines, but adoption will continue to rise across the Caribbean for the foreseeable future
• In the first five months of 2022, more than $120 billion was invested in building out metaverse technology and infrastructure, more than double the $57 billion invested in 2021

Viva Las Vegas

Hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in the West Hall, the GSMA is delighted to announce an extension of its partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) to bring the MWC North America series to the venue through to 2024.

MWC Las Vegas brings together the digital ecosystem with over 300 exhibiting companies and more than 200 expert speakers and thought leaders. More than a third of the event’s speakers are female and half of Keynote 1 is female. Attendees will enjoy three unforgettable days, bringing stakeholders together across an array of industries to showcase the latest innovative technology, policies, and their impact on business and society.

Connectivity Unleashed

This year’s theme is Connectivity Unleashed and will showcase the power of connectivity in impacting every facet of our everyday lives, allowing decision-makers to explore how 5G Connectivity, IoT Connectivity, Tech Horizon, Cloudnet and more are enhancing the future and transforming society.

“We’re elated to kick off the first MWC event in a city known for its business and technology expertise. We’re also delighted to announce our extended partnership with the LVCVA to bring the North American edition of the MWC series to the venue through 2024. The LVCVA and Las Vegas have been great partners, and we look forward to creating additional memorable experiences for our members, attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors. We’ve got several official networking events and features to MWC Las Vegas, kicking off with the MWC Las Vegas Welcome Party, sponsored by NTT,” said GSMA Ltd.’s CEO, John Hoffman.

Be sure not to miss keynotes and conference tracks featuring AT&T, CTIA, Qualcomm, NTT Group, T-Mobile, Verizon and more in the coming days. Mobile World Live will live stream all keynotes from this web page. Please click here to download the Mobile Economy North America 2022 report from the GSMA.

-ENDS-

About GSMA

The GSMA is a global organization 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

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Margaux Berry, Vice-President, Strategy and Growth, BeWhere and Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA participate in Keynote 1, MWC Las Vegas 2022