The Global Mobile Broadband Forum – MBBF 2023 opened in Dubai, UAE on October 10, 2023. The event, hosted by Huawei in collaboration with GSMA, GTI and the Telecommunications Council SAMENA, themed Bring 5.5G to Reality, is the 14th edition that brings together key stakeholders and leaders of the ICT industry around the world every year to discuss the development direction of the mobile communications industry and the infinite possibilities of mobile connectivity.
The two-day event, which was categorized into keynotes, summits and innovation exhibitions, kicked off with keynote speeches from a strong line-up of Huawei senior executives and the region’s most influential telecom organizations and industry leaders, highlighting key 5G rollout successes in their areas of operation and shared insights on how 5G has been adopted in various sectors.
Huawei’s rotating Chairman, Mr. Ken Hu, and GSMA Director, Mats Granryd, virtually kicked off the keynote session from Shenzhen and London respectively to share their insights on how integrated 5G innovation is building a digital world.
HPointing out the speed at which 5G is developing, Mr. Ken Hu said: “It is clear that the adoption of 5G is much faster than 4G, and we now have about 1.5 billion 5G users worldwide, which is really amazing.”
He also stated that “Technology is changing so quickly and new requirements are evolving every day, so our networks must continue to evolve as well. Our industry as a whole needs to prepare for the future and maximize the value of 5G investments – and that’s why we’re working so hard on 5G-Advanced.”
Engineer Said Bin Ghelaita, Executive Director of Technology Development Affairs at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority – (TDRA), UAE in his keynote address outlined the successes and lessons learned of 5G so far in the UAE since it was deployed. He said that by deepening innovation in network technology, accelerating the development of advanced 5G technologies, and promoting maturity-related products, the region will continue its role as a global 5G pioneer.
He was followed by DU UAE’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Karim Benkirane, who revealed plans for 5G Advanced (5.5G) and the successes DU has seen with fixed wireless access services over the years.
The Executive Chairman of CCS Insight a market research and analysis company, Mr. Shaun Collins for his part gave an overview of the latest trends driving the change with some insights into the private network market and the opportunities therein.
Speaking about 5G monetization, Mr Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA said: “As we look to the future, 5G and 5G Advanced will be at the forefront for many years to come.” He reminded the audience not to forget, we are only 4 years into the technology life cycle, with many more opportunities to discover.
Other prominent industry leaders such as Chief Network Officer & Head of Mobile Access – Marco Zangani of Vodafone Italia; Bruce Lam? CEO Consumer – Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd addressed 5G monetization. and Unleashing the power of 5.5G and accelerating the future of the O2O ecosystem respectively.
The keynote sessions concluded with Mr. Li Peng, Huawei’s Corporate Senior Vice President and President of the company’s Carrier BG, urging global carriers and industry partners to rise to the occasion and address the growing demands on networks and to make the most of future trends. “Let’s start today, build tomorrow’s networks for future services and unleash the infinite potential of 5G for continued success,” he said.
Focus Group Discussions
The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2023 also featured specialized focus group discussions, such as the 5G Industry Summit, which addressed the need for coordinated development of policies, ecosystems and networks to accelerate global 5G deployment. While all the groups at the 5G Summit discussed the concept, success stories and development path of building high-quality networks in pursuit of sustainable 5G development and greater 5G business success.
Indoor 5G Roundtable
An indoor 5G roundtable saw industry organizations, operators and analysts discuss industry progress, indoor 5G best practices and service design, and the path to building 5.5G indoor wireless networks.
Huawei CTO Roundtable
The famous Huawei CTO Roundtable was also held on the first day, where CTOs from various mobile industries shared 5G best practices and explored 5G Advanced.
Exhibition stands
In addition to keynotes and focused industry summits, MBBF2023 also featured exhibition booths that showcased various innovations made possible by 5G and its next evolution, 5G Advanced, which gave attendees a better understanding of the endless possibilities. which the increased speed and low latency can reveal. From the self-driving car that delivers goods and prompts you when it arrives already operational in China, autonomous inventory management that can revolutionize stock picking in warehouses, to glass-free 3D displays, the model home of the future and the 5.5G Cafe among the rest.
Media Round Table & Huawei engagement
The President of Huawei Wireless Solutions, Mr. Cao Ming – occupied the media on the second day after many other speeches from the industry leaders. In response to questions, Mr. Cao Ming said that “Huawei recognizes that different countries are at different levels of development, and Huawei is dedicated and committed to providing different and diverse solutions for different scenarios and markets.”
conclusion
The Mobile Broadband Forum 2023 – MBBF 2023 offered consumers, businesses and telecommunications providers a glimpse into a future where technology pushes existing boundaries and facilitates new possibilities that will reshape societies and economies. As the industry absorbs these insights, the path to 5.5G-Advanced becomes clearer, promising a future where connectivity is not just ubiquitous, but intelligent to ensure a digital society that is truly inclusive, immersive and transformative. The 14th Global Mobile Broadband Forum is a testament to Huawei’s commitment to leading this charge, laying the groundwork for a digital revolution that will reverberate into the future.