The GSM Association's Mobile World Congress (formerly 3GSM World Congress) combines the world's largest exhibition for the mobile industry with a stimulating and insightful congress that brings together prominent leaders and personalities from mobile operators and equipment vendors, as well as Internet and entertainment professionals. Held each year in February in Barcelona, Spain, the event is a good way to keep up with the latest technologies and to network with your peers.

The Mobile World Congress attracts approximately 50,000 attendees each year, making it important to get in early to book travel and accommodation. We recommend getting an apartment rather than a hotel as the latter can be up to twice as expensive for half the space.

Maurie Dobbin has attended and reported on this event since 1995 writing for journals such as Mobile Communications International and for our in-house newsletter, Mobiles. During that period he has seen it grow from a conference with a small exhibition to the world's largest event focused on the fast growing field of mobile communications.