MWC 2026 Review and Assessment: The IQ Era of AI and 6G Begins

MWC 2026 Review and Assessment: The IQ Era of AI and 6G Begins

Han Ko, Editor-in-Chief of Daily News, Reports from Barcelona on AI-Native Networks, Satellite Communication, and Quantum Technologies Leading Next-Gen ICT

【Barcelona = Daily News】

The world’s largest mobile and telecommunications industry exhibition, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, concluded in Barcelona, Spain, showcasing ‘The IQ Era’ as its core theme, highlighting the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation communication technologies in the global ICT landscape.

Held from March 2 to 5 at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center, MWC 2026 drew hundreds of thousands of industry professionals and companies from around the world. The event focused on AI-native networks, 6G, satellite communication, robotics, and quantum computing, demonstrating the direction of future technologies.

Daily News Editor-in-Chief Han Ko Dr. Han Ko covered the event on-site, commenting that “MWC 2026 went beyond a typical mobile technology exhibition. It demonstrated the starting point of an era where AI is central to networks and industrial infrastructure.”

AI at the Core: The Rise of Intelligent Networks

The standout feature of MWC 2026 was the emergence of AI-Native Networks, in which AI is embedded directly into network infrastructure. Experts noted that AI is no longer just a tool but a self-operating system capable of network design, operation, fault recovery, and traffic optimization autonomously.

Global telecom alliances participated in developing Telco-specific LLMs (Language Models), standardizing AI in telecommunications. These collaborations target over 1.3 billion subscribers, aiming to create a global AI-enabled telecommunications ecosystem.

6G and Satellite Communications: Entering a Hyper-Connected World

6G and satellite-based Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) were among the key highlights. Next-generation 6G is expected to go beyond faster data speeds, integrating sensing, AI computing, and satellite networks to create a fully three-dimensional global communication infrastructure.

The exhibition also demonstrated Direct-to-Device (D2D) technology, enabling smartphones to connect directly to satellites without additional equipment, eliminating coverage gaps even in remote areas.

Quantum Computing and Robotics: Shaping the Future

MWC 2026 also showcased breakthrough future technologies.

The newly established Quantum Telco Zone featured practical applications of quantum encryption and quantum sensing, emphasizing its role as a game-changer in secure communications.

In robotics, Embodied AI was a major trend, with humanoid robots, robot-equipped smartphones, and digital twin systems for disaster prediction demonstrated, illustrating AI’s expansion into the physical world.

Korean Companies Shine on the Global Stage

Korean companies and institutions were highly visible at MWC 2026.

Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Z Fold7 was a finalist for the GLOMO Award in the smartphone category, highlighting the combination of hardware innovation and AI capabilities. SK Telecom showcased its AI cloud solution Petasus, demonstrating global technical leadership.

Korean startups also drew attention at the 4YFN (Four Years From Now) startup pavilion, presenting AI security, on-device AI, and autonomous AI agent technologies, attracting international investors.

“AI is Now Infrastructure”

Dr. Han Ko emphasized that the core message of MWC 2026 is that “AI is no longer just a technology—it is infrastructure.”

He explained, “AI is transforming networks and industrial structures at their core. Satellite communication, 6G, and quantum computing are driving the hyper-connected era faster than ever.”

He added that telecommunications competitiveness now depends not just on network deployment but on monetizing AI-based services and business models.

Strategic Implications for Global ICT

Experts suggest that future global ICT competition will hinge on securing 6G technologies, building AI-network ecosystems, and supporting global expansion of startups.

Countries are increasingly pursuing Sovereign AI strategies to protect data sovereignty, making national AI ecosystems a critical factor in global business competition.

MWC 2026 is widely regarded as the starting point of an era of intelligent connectivity, setting the stage for a rapidly evolving global ICT landscape.