Every February, the beautiful city of Barcelona is taken over by flocks of journalists, global mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers and equipment vendors. It is for the world’s largest exhibition of the mobile industry, Mobile World Congress.

Reports and Coverage
GSMA issues important update on Coronavirus
Two weeks out from one of the world’s largest tech shows, the GSMA has issued some sweeping safeguards over growing concerns around the coronavirus for its upcoming event, Mobile World Congress. After a number of high profile back-outs, including ZTE, LG, NVIDIA, Ericsson, and most recently Amazon, the company issued a new list, including a ban of visitors originating from the Hubei province, whose capital Wuhan is believed to be the origin of the epidemic.
RIPE NCC hosts workshop on IPv6 deployment in Beirut
The Réseaux IP Européens Network Coordination Centre (RIPE NCC) recently held a training program for Mobile Operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and other stakeholders from public and private sectors in Lebanon. The attendees met at the Intercontinental Phoenicia hotel to spend three days together learning how to work with Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and deploy it on their networks.
US considers buying controlling stakes in Nokia and Ericsson
US Attorney general Bill Barr has called for The United States and its allies to take controlling stakes in Nokia, Ericsson or both to battle Chinese telecoms giant Huawei's dominance of the 5G market.
GSMA cancels Mobile World Congress 2020
The world’s largest mobile event, Mobile World Congress (MWC), has been cancelled after scores of the world’s biggest technology and telecommunications companies pulled out over fears of the spread of the coronavirus.
A message to MWC Barcelona visitors on coronavirus outbreak
The GSMA continues to monitor and assess the potential impact of the Coronavirus on its MWC20 events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles and as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. The GSMA confirms that there is minimal impact on the event thus far. MWC Barcelona 24-27 February 2020, will proceed as planned, across all venues at Fira Gran Via Fira Montjuïc and La Farga L’Hospitalet, including YoMo and Four Years From Now (4YFN).
Telecom, ICT and energy
By David Erlich, director of business consulting, Sofrecom
Telecoms and electricity companies have many things in common, including a history of former monopolies that opened to competition. The transformation of both sectors driven by energy transition and deregulation opens new areas of convergence.
Oman ICT Group and IFS collaborate to boost country’s ICT sector
IFS, the global enterprise applications company, has announced the signing of a new agreement with Oman ICT Group.
Just-ITC joins ITU study group to collaboratively devise ICT Development Indexes
Just-ITC, the fast growing Dubai-based telecom consultancy company, has announced that it is now a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ‘Development Expert’ Study Group.
BAI Communications welcomes new Group CEO
BAI Communications has announced that global wireless communications executive Igor Leprince has been appointed to the role of Group Chief Executive Officer commencing 1st May 2020.