# Back in Barcelona, telecoms bosses stake claim to digital future Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-06-28 Category: TECHNOLOGY Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology Meta Title: Barcelona Mobile World Congress: Telecoms Industry Agenda Meta Description: Telecoms leaders discuss the industry's pivotal role in global digital development post-pandemic at the hybrid event in Barcelona with a focus on URL: https://financedigest.com/back-in-barcelona-telecoms-bosses-stake-claim-to-digital-futurehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2021-06-27t231005z1lynxnpeh5q0crrtroptp4telecoms-mobileworld-king-1736838263136-compressed.jpg) By Clara-Laeila Laudette and Supantha Mukherjee BARCELONA (Reuters) -Telecoms bosses toasted the return of Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress on Monday with an agenda to put the industry at the centre of digital development and inclusion in a global reboot following the coronavirus pandemic. Having kept networks humming while people were locked down at home, telecoms executives said the pandemic had shown how vital connectivity was to those with access to the latest technology, and more so for those the billions who lack it. Cancelled last year at the last minute when COVID-19 first began to spread [across the globe](https://www.financedigest.com/sales-of-medical-beds-across-the-globe-are-estimated-to-exceed-us-3000-mn-in-revenues-by-2022-end.html "Sales of Medical Beds Across the Globe are Estimated to Exceed US$ 3,000 Mn in Revenues by 2022-end"), the annual event is being held in a hybrid format with around 30,000 visitors, compared to the more than 100,000 that usually attend, with others online. We are [back to business](https://www.financedigest.com/improve-your-business-while-saving-the-planet-and-your-back-with-easycat.html "Improve your business while saving the planet and your back with EasyCat"), back to Barcelona and back together,” said Mats Granryd, head of the GSMA industry association that hosts the biggest telecoms get-together at the Catalan capital’s sprawling Fira trade fair grounds. With the acceleration of digitalisation during the coronavirus crisis, cybersecurity and data governance are taking centre stage, the chiefs of Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom and France’s Orange said, adding that [building trust](https://www.financedigest.com/how-sonic-branding-can-build-trust-and-confidence.html "How sonic branding can build trust and confidence") with consumers was key. For too long progress in [technology meant only advancement at any cost – but real progress comes when we move towards an equitable future](https://www.financedigest.com/technology-skills-and-servitization-a-brighter-future-for-manufacturing.html "TECHNOLOGY, SKILLS AND SERVITIZATION: A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR MANUFACTURING?"), not when we just make shiny new things,” Stephane Richard, Orange CEO and GSMA chairman said in a keynote address from the event’s main stage. Saddled with high [debt and weak revenues](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-twitters-massive-revenue-drop-adds-to-heavy-debt-burden.html "Analysis-Twitter’s ‘massive’ revenue drop adds to heavy debt burden"), telcos are hoping to capitalise on the social credit derived from their role connecting societies and individuals during the pandemic to position themselves as the ‘good guys. [“Data cannot be extricated without compensation – it’s called digital](https://www.financedigest.com/why-data-is-the-best-weapon-in-the-war-for-digital-talent.html "Why data is the best weapon in the war for digital talent") dignity,” Telefonica CEO Jose-Maria Alvarez-Pallete said. I have a right to [know what my data](https://www.financedigest.com/its-what-you-know-the-role-of-data-in-mergers-and-acquisitions.html "It’s what you know: the role of data in mergers and acquisitions") is worth. The trio also [called for an overhaul of regulation](https://www.financedigest.com/german-regulator-calls-on-allianz-to-improve-controls-source.html "German regulator calls on Allianz to improve controls – source") in the European Union, saying fragmentation across the 27-nation bloc put them at a disadvantage against rivals like Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging service. “Connectivity today is needed. But, in 2030, connectivity will be a human right,” [Deutsche Telekom CEO](https://www.financedigest.com/deutsche-telekom-reaches-majority-stake-in-t-mobile-u-s-ceo.html "Deutsche Telekom reaches majority stake in T-Mobile U.S. – CEO") Tim Hoettges said. With visitors armed with negative COVID-19 tests, FFP2 [face masks and a digital](https://www.financedigest.com/3-top-digital-asset-threats-facing-your-brand-in-2017.html "3 top digital asset threats facing your brand in 2017") contact tracing badge, the industry hopes the event will create a blueprint for the future. But several big names including Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung are staying away this year. I promise [next year](https://www.financedigest.com/the-next-upcoming-years-to-see-the-gastric-electric-stimulators-market-grow-kinetically.html "The Next Upcoming Years To See The Gastric Electric Stimulators Market Grow Kinetically") that Deutsche Telekom and all of us will be back again in Barcelona,” said Hoettges, who joined by video link from the company’s headquarters in Bonn, Germany. CYBERSECURITY Richard said that a third of [European businesses had reported](https://www.financedigest.com/european-governments-spend-half-a-trillion-euros-on-energy-crisis-report-2.html "European governments spend half a trillion euros on energy crisis – report") cyber-attacks last year, a potentially fatal occurrence for smaller firms lacking the software to protect themselves. “Cybersecurity is a constant race… no-one can be protected any longer behind a closed digital wall,” Richard said, a position echoed across the panel, who suggested next-generation 5G mobile networks were both a [solution and risk](https://www.financedigest.com/jaywing-releases-horizon-a-new-ifrs-9-modelling-solution-that-encapsulates-its-extensive-credit-risk-expertise.html "Jaywing releases Horizon, a new IFRS 9 modelling solution that encapsulates its extensive credit risk expertise"). Most telcos are betting big on 5G, with [partnerships announced](https://www.financedigest.com/adverty-and-yazle-announce-exclusive-in-game-ad-partnership-in-mena-region.html "Adverty and Yazle announce exclusive in-game ad partnership in MENA region") at MWC spanning the cloud, software-as-a-service and traditional mobile and broadband operations. In China, 5G is on the fast track of development, with the deployment of nearly 850,000 5G base stations and 330 million 5G cell phone users,” [China Mobile Chairman Yang Jie said via](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-investors-route-to-post-covid-china-is-via-europe.html "Analysis-Investors’ route to post-COVID China is via Europe") videolink. He predicted that [China’s digital economy](https://www.financedigest.com/china-steps-up-easing-cuts-lending-benchmarks-to-revive-faltering-economy.html "China steps up easing, cuts lending benchmarks to revive faltering economy") would represent half of its GDP by 2025. (Reporting by Clara-Laeila Laudette and Supantha Mukherjee; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Alexander Smith) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---