Mobile World Congress may have wrapped for another year, but there has been plenty of discussion and takeaways on what lies ahead for automakers and the wider connected industries.
The week opened with a quote from the GSMA’s Chief Marketing office Lara Dewar in which she stressed the key role connectivity now plays:
“As you walk around MWC this week, there is no denying the incredible impact that connectivity has on our lives. It has truly transformed the way that we live and work and interact with each other.”
This was in clear evidence at the show where the focus wasn’t only on showcasing the new innovations connectivity has ushered in but asking what other opportunities can be unlocked if it’s managed in the right way.
eSIM and NTN summits: high on the agenda
On Wednesday, the highly anticipated eSIM and NTN Summits were held at MWC. The former, titled “eSIM: The Connection of the Future,” brought together industry leaders and innovators to explore the transformative potential of eSIM technology in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Keynote speakers, including Lukasz Balczewski from IDEMIA Secure Transactions, Rudolf Engelsman of KPN, and Daniel Conradsen from Tackunit, shared insights from early SGP.32 implementations, shedding light on the challenges faced and outlining strategies for scaling eSIM IoT deployments successfully.
With the adoption of the GSMA SGP.32 standard for IoT, the stakes are high. This standard outlines several important technical and business requirements for eSIM management in the IoT, including enhanced security, interoperability across devices and network operators, and scalability for high-volume deployments.
Thales, a leader in eSIM management platforms, spoke at the MWC event about its partnership with Cubic to enable this. For large-scale deployment of eSIM technology across a variety of devices, the need for smart and seamless connectivity management has never been more important. Vehicles equipped with Cubic’s solution, integrated with Thales’s platform, can automatically connect to local networks when crossing borders, eliminating the need for complex negotiations or additional costs.
Also heavily attended on Wednesday was the Satellite and NTN Summit. A key focus was the shift in the sector as it begins to move from pilot projects to commercial launches – highlighting how much the race to harness the power of satellite connectivity is gathering pace. Discussions on the day included how satellite will integrate with 4G/5G and the benefits this ubiquitous connectivity will bring, new revenue opportunities in consumer and B2B markets, and the role of satellite in disaster response.
There were several announcements off the back of the summit, including French satellite provider Eutelsat teaming up with Airbus and Mediatek to conduct the world’s first 5G NTN trial using OneWeb’s low Earth orbit satellites, and Qualcomm showcasing its advanced wireless innovations, including 5G NTN.
Cubic recently partnered with Skylo, a pioneer in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communication to deliver satellite-based IoT connectivity. This collaboration will enhance connectivity in remote areas where traditional networks are unavailable. By leveraging Skylo’s low-cost satellite connectivity, Cubic will enable seamless tracking, monitoring, and management of vehicles and operations, offering reliable communication in even the most challenging environments.
With satellite communication offering superior reliability and coverage, our partnership also aims to address the need for real-time communication in critical situations. This will be essential for supporting emergency response teams.
Harnessing 5G for innovation
5G was also a big topic at MWC this year, with several initiatives focused on enhancing connectivity across sectors like automotive, agriculture, and transportation:
- The GSMA announced collaborations with the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) and Japan Automotive Software Platform and Architecture (JASPAR). Both seek to explore how advanced connectivity and 5G technology can drive innovation in autonomous driving, smart cities, and mobility solutions.
- China Mobile and ZTE won the GSMA Foundry 5G Monetisation Excellence Award for their “Smart Agri” project, pioneering 5G-powered farming in saline-alkali lands. Expanding from 2 to 10 unmanned farms since 2021, it restored 13,333 hectares, boosted rice output to 110,000 tons, and generated over 10 million RMB in economic benefits.
- Ericsson Enterprise Wireless showcased its 5G and AI efforts, focusing on private 5G networks, IoT, edge computing, and AI-driven applications across various industries, including agriculture. These innovations aim to illustrate the potential impact of advanced wireless technologies on high-value IoT industries.
Smart connectivity: the backbone of innovation
While advancements across 5G, satellite, AI, and IoT reinforce MWC as a global hub for innovation, automakers shouldn’t forget the importance of seamless global connectivity in enabling all of this. The excitement around harnessing these technologies must not blind OEMs to the fact that they require a smart connectivity management platform if they want to streamline operations, scale globally, and unlock new opportunities.
The winners will be those who don’t just embrace innovation but have the foresight to build the right partnerships now that will support and enable them on this journey. The future is connected – but only for those who connect the right dots.
