Top Trends from MWC 2025 - GenAI, API, and Beyond

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, held in the vibrant city of Barcelona, has once again established itself as a hub for groundbreaking innovations and transformative discussions in the telecommunications and technology sectors. This year’s event, taking place from March 3rd to 6th, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to explore the latest trends shaping the future of mobile technology.

Additionally, it provided an excellent opportunity for collaboration between Bulgarian and Romanian teams of Sirma, which were presented by Momchill Zarev, Chief Growth Officer, Valeriy Popov, Business Development Director, Ivelin Parvanov, Sales Director, from the Sirma team and Necsuleu Valentin, Sales Manager and Co-founder, and Sorin Tarceatu, Division Manager, from the Roweb team.

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Momchill Zarev, Chief Growth Officer at Sirma shared,

At MWC Barcelona, I had the opportunity to engage with leaders from mobile operators, technology firms, and banks to discuss the future of fintech and mobile services. Mobile technology has transformed financial management and significantly impacted banking. Sirma can offer skilled software teams that are eager to collaborate with key industry players. The rapid growth of fintech and mobile commerce, driven by innovations in cloud computing, AI, and 5G, presents numerous opportunities. Despite the challenges faced by new businesses entering the market, providing innovative financial solutions remains a worthwhile pursuit.

From 6G to responsible AI – what are the key takeaways from MWC 2025?

Numerous high-level discussions and keynote speeches delivered by brilliant minds highlighted the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of the telecommunications and interconnected industries. These industries harness the power of MWC 2025, a platform for exploring the latest innovations and addressing the challenges that lie ahead. Here are some of the most significant insights and trends from the event.

AI is the King

Generative AI CenerativeAI(GenAI) remains a dominant theme at MWC 2025. This technology is revolutionising nearly every industry. GenAI is harnessed in the telecom sector to create new revenue streams, enhance customer experiences, and drive operational efficiencies. The discussions emphasised how GenAI can tackle some of the industry’s most significant challenges, such as cybersecurity threats and market instability competition.

Agentive AI AAI was also a widely discussed topic. The technology involves AI systems that can act autonomously and make decisions, and it is gaining attention. This technology is seen as a significant force reshaping the telecommunications landscape, with non-traditional players from parallel industries entering the mobile sector.

Responsible AI As AI technologies become more widespread, the importance of responsible AI practices has emerged as a significant topic at MWC 2025. Responsible AI develops and deploys ethical, transparent, and accountable AI systems. Discussions have focused on strong governance frameworks, ethical guidelines, and regulatory measures to ensure that AI technologies are used responsibly and do not perpetuate biases or cause harm.

AI-Enabled Software Development The role of AI in software development was a key topic at MWC 2025. AI-enabled software development uses artificial intelligence to automate various stages of the software development lifecycle, including coding, testing, and deployment. This approach can significantly reduce development time, enhance software quality, and foster innovation. Discussions emphasised how AI can help telecom companies remain competitive by speeding up the development of new products and services.

The Future of 6G While 5G is still being rolled out globally, discussions at MWC 2025 have already begun to focus on the future of 6G. Experts are exploring the potential of 6G to deliver unprecedented speeds, ultra-low latency, and enhanced connectivity. The emphasis is on how 6G can support emerging technologies such as holographic communications, advanced IoT applications, and immersive virtual experiences. The development of 6G is crucial in meeting the increasing demand for high-speed and reliable connectivity.

The Power of APIs Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have been a significant focus at MWC 2025. APIs enable different software systems to communicate and collaborate seamlessly, crucial for developing innovative mobile services. The GSMA’s Open Gateway Initiative, aimed at standardising APIs across the telecom industry, represents a significant step towards creating a more interconnected and efficient digital ecosystem. This initiative is expected to drive digital transformation in various sectors, including aviation and automotive.

B2B and B2C Opportunities MWC 2025 also highlighted the expanding opportunities in B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) markets. For B2B, the focus is on how telecom companies can utilise their infrastructure to provide advanced services to enterprises, such as private networks, IoT solutions, and cloud services. On the B2C front, the emphasis is on enhancing customer experiences through personalised services, innovative mobile applications, and seamless connectivity.

Telecoms and Sustainability Sustainability has emerged as a crucial concern for the telecom industry, and MWC 2025 tackled this issue directly. Discussions focused on reducing emissions within the telecom sector and embracing greener practices. Innovations such as energy-efficient network infrastructure, renewable energy sources, and sustainable business models were highlighted as effective ways to minimise the industry’s environmental impact.

The Role of Telco APIs Telco APIs, which enable developers to access advanced network capabilities, were a major highlight at MWC 2025. These APIs are considered a crucial facilitator of digital transformation, enabling telecom operators to offer innovative services and enhance network efficiency. The GSMA Fusion initiative, aimed at providing API services across various industries, was presented as a significant step toward creating a more interconnected digital ecosystem.

Cybersecurity As digital technologies continue to advance, cybersecurity has become a top priority for the telecom industry. MWC 2025 included discussions about cybersecurity threats and the necessary measures to protect networks and data. The emphasis was on creating strong security frameworks, utilising AI for threat detection, and promoting collaboration among industry stakeholders to improve cybersecurity resilience.

Partnerships and Collaborations Finally, MWC 2025 highlighted the significance of partnerships and collaborations in fostering innovation. Telecom companies, technology providers, and startups are increasingly joining forces to create new solutions and bring them to market. These collaborations are essential for tackling the industry’s complex challenges and unlocking new growth opportunities.

Final words MWC 2025 has showcased the transformative impact of technology and collaboration in the telecom industry. Insights from this year’s event highlight generative AI, 6G, responsible AI, and sustainability, offering a glimpse into the future. The discussions at MWC 2025 will be vital in guiding the industry’s evolution.

Referent sources: MWC-2025 and McKinsey insights.

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