With a very strict health protocol, the XIV edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) returned to the Fira de Barcelona on Monday, June 28.

The event returns after two years, with its latest edition being held in a hybrid format, online and in person. The occasion is one of the most important technology congresses in the world after the pandemic.

From June 28 to July 1, the event takes place with between 30,000 and 50,000 participants, 300 exhibitors, 600 speakers and 350 startups.

Staff members are specifically tasked with reminding participants to keep their distance and avoid crowds.

This year, much of the conference is focused on startups and local businesses, rather than the big companies that usually attend.

“It is very good news that two worlds like big industry and start-ups are coming closer, even if it is little by little, because they need each other”, said Ignasi Capellà of Broomx, an immersive solutions company.

Likewise, Marc Obrador, from the security company Build38, celebrated the visits of Korean delegates and those from various European countries.

“Classic mobile is different, there you have the highest level, it’s more flexible and horizontal, it helps us to establish links with other start-ups”, complimented Obrador’s partner, Pedro Hernández, arrived from Singapore to attend Mobile after a year and a half without setting foot in his hometown or seeing colleagues.

The return of this international congress to the city has been something that many companies and startups have been looking forward to over the past year, as part of their process of positioning in the tech industry. With a mandatory antigen test to be performed every 72 hours, MWC attendees support the importance of holding the event in a relaxed atmosphere, despite continuing to wear the mask at all times.