Launch of Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC2026) Events in Doha

Doha -- The second edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2026) kicked off today, Sunday, in the Qatari capital, Doha, under the theme “The Age of Intelligence,” and will run for three days.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Qatari Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed Al-Muna’i said, “We meet today at a time when digital transformations are accelerating, along with growing challenges facing telecommunications infrastructure, amid delicate geopolitical conditions affecting our region and the world.” He added that as economies and societies increasingly rely on digital services, the resilience of telecommunications networks and the continuity of their services have become shared priorities that call for greater cooperation and investment.

Al-Muna’i warned that disruptions to telecommunications networks could have repercussions extending to communications, services, and the lives of millions of people, emphasizing the importance of diversifying communication routes and enhancing integration among terrestrial, maritime, and space-based networks.

He pointed to the growing importance of infrastructure as artificial intelligence enters a new stage of development, expanding its capabilities from analysis and prediction to executing complex tasks and interacting with corporate systems and processes. This evolution, he noted, imposes new requirements on telecommunications networks, data centers, and computing capacities, while simultaneously opening broad opportunities for growth and innovation.

Highlighting the digital divide, Al-Muna’i said, “As opportunities expand, the gap widens between countries that possess the ability to develop and deploy advanced technologies and those facing challenges in accessing the necessary infrastructure, resources, and skills.” In this regard, he noted that high-income countries account for 77 percent of global commercial shared data center capacity, compared to less than 0.1 percent for low-income countries, according to World Bank data.

Reaffirming Qatar’s commitment, he stated that the country continues to invest in advanced telecommunications networks, cloud infrastructure, and AI capabilities, alongside developing digital skills and crafting solutions that reflect the language, culture, and needs of its institutions and society.

He underscored the particular significance of MWC 2026, as it coincides for the first time with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference in a single venue, bringing together policymakers, telecommunications and technology sector leaders, and investors.

For her part, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU, said in her address that “the world is talking about sixth-generation (6G) networks, which requires partnership and mobilization of technical and financial resources.” She added that the summit would also highlight artificial intelligence and the importance of building trust and security in infrastructure to ensure the safety of technological systems.

On his part, Vivek Kundra, Director General of the GSMA, emphasized the importance of continuing to adhere to global standards to ensure operational interoperability between networks and services across different markets, as well as intensifying efforts to expand connectivity to underserved populations in the Middle East and North Africa.

The conference brings together a select group of telecommunications and technology sector leaders and digital policymakers from around the world, running from November 8 to 10. (End)