The GSMA’s flagship Asia event in Shanghai next week brings together the transformational themes of AI+ and 5G Inside under one roof, attracting a range of new speakers and exhibitors, including device maker Honor, VR player Pony.ai and air-taxi company AutoFlight.
AI is on the brink of a new era, poised to redefine the future of technology, while 5G is driving smarter, more sustainable services for businesses, governments and communities.
GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath, at the helm for his first MWC Shanghai, told Mobile World Live as AI accelerates at an unprecedented pace, “it has evolved from a frontier of innovation into a powerful catalyst for transformation across vertical industries”.
In China, he noted from the start 5G has been prioritised as a key enabler for industrial innovation, prompting widespread demand for private network solutions across sectors such as manufacturing, ports and logistics.
He suggested the vast scale of China’s industrial base ensures a constant flow of private 5G deployments and operational learning, which significantly reduce costs and drive efficiencies.
Thought leadership
MWC Shanghai 2025 runs 18 to 20 June at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) and Kerry Hotel Pudong, featuring more than 170 speakers across some 53 keynotes, summits and GSMA programmes.
More than a dozen industry summits cover themes including agentic AI, AI powered telco, GSMA Open Gateway, Satellite and NTN, and 5G monetisation.
The opening keynotes feature industry tech leaders, including AI Club Asia MD Bo Gao, China Mobile chair Yang Jie, China Tower chair Zhiyong Zhang, Chongqing Changan Automobile chair Zhu Huarong, Honor CEO James Li, Huawei rotating chairman Eric Xu, Singtel CEO for International Digital Services Anna Yip and ZTE chief development officer Cui Li.
Badrinath will open the Digital Leader Programme, joined by thought leaders from across the ecosystem to explore how AI can move beyond generic use cases to deeply integrate with real-world sectors. “I’m looking forward to following the theme Unlocking AI’s Potential to Drive Industry Transformation.”
He noted the GSMA also is excited to host the 2025 World Robot Contest Qualifier for the first time, adding: “It’s where emerging tech talent goes head-to-head in a qualifying round of what’s regarded as the ‘Olympics’ of the robotics world.”
The DG noted 4YFN returns with “renewed energy and a bold vision for innovation” and is positioned to be Asia Pacific’s most exciting innovation and start-ups event, connecting global investors and up-and-coming enterprises.
On the exhibition floor, built up across five halls, Badrinath said he is looking forward to visiting the new GSMA Innovation Frontier Zone where “you can immerse yourself in truly next-gen technology – watch out for dynamic robotic performances featuring humanoid robots, air taxi demos and robotaxi experiential VR”.
IoT focus
New this year, the event is co-located with IOTE, a premier IoT industry showcase, bringing together cutting-edge technologies, innovative services and global business leaders. With a focus spanning RFID, sensors, communication modules, edge computing, visual IoT and cloud platforms, IOTE offers a deep dive into the future of connected industries.
In another first at MWC Shanghai, the GSMA Policy Leaders Forum brings together global policymakers and industry leaders to discuss pressing policy and regulatory issues. Key topics will include the impact and opportunities of AI, closing the digital divide as well as mobile and AI’s convergence – and the digital transformation incentives needed for the growth of digital nations.
In its second year at the event, the Connected Industries Programme offers an expanded line-up of exhibitions, sharing use-cases across fintech, manufacturing and smart mobility.
Future Tech Hall returns to Hall N4, hosting innovative companies demonstrating a wide range of future technologies.
Other first-time exhibitors are Droidup, Leju Robotics, Shanghai Zhiyuan Innovation Technology, Shanghai Spacecom and Unitree.
And the Asia Mobile Awards take place on 19 June, with three new awards honouring SME innovation, best AI innovation and best mobile innovation for climate action in the region.
Source: https://www.mobileworldlive.com/asia-pacific/mwc-shanghai-explores-fusion-of-ai-and-5g/
