Mobile World Congress 2026
The technology conference, which focuses on connectivity, has long gone beyond a platform for premieres of the latest smartphones and this year is focusing on AI innovation, the “IQ era” (integration of artificial intelligence), the future of air travel, and discussions on 5G and 6G, Euronews notes.
At the same time, the publication emphasizes Europe’s lagging behind in the technology race. “The exhibition will also sound a stark warning: regulatory barriers and lack of investment are slowing down the deployment of 5G in Europe,” Euronews quotes Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, the organizer of the congress, as saying.
Next-generation robots and smartphones
In the center of attention of the forum on the first day was the Chinese company HONOR, which officially presented its most audacious innovations. The company showcased the Robot Phone, a device that CEO James Li called “a new kind of smartphone” by integrating robotic motion control and AI interaction beyond conventional touchscreens.
“We’re bringing together IQ and EQ: not just a brain for data analysis, but physical, expressive interactivity,” Li emphasized during the presentation, explaining how the hardware and software components create a natural, intuitive dialogue between the user and the device.
HONOR also demonstrated its first-ever humanoid robot assistant, which the company said is aimed at everyday service tasks, from shopping assistance to interaction in work environments.
Europe in pursuit of China and the US
European regulation will be a key topic in Barcelona, Euronews claims. Telecom executives will push for reform of the European Digital Network Act (DNA), the EU’s plan to “modernize, simplify and harmonize the Union’s rules on communications networks.”
In October 2025, they sent a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, (source in English) calling for “bold reforms” to improve connectivity and warning of the risk of missing out on the digital future.
Much of the problem, they said, is that the US and China each have three major operators with a customer base of between 150 million and 450 million subscribers. At the same time, the European market is fragmented: there are about 200 operators with an average of 5 million customers each.
The lack of scale makes it financially impossible for European companies to compete with global competitors in terms of investment in R&D and infrastructure, telecom companies say.
Since several European commissioners will attend MWC, it could be a chance for a dialog between European regulators and telecom operators.
