MWC26 Doha draws more than 10,000 attendees from 100 countries
MWC26 Doha brought together more than 10,000 attendees from 100 countries and territories, positioning the Middle East and North Africa at the center of discussions about global connectivity policy and innovation. The three-day event was held alongside the opening days of the ITU’s Plenipotentiary Conference.
- More than 10,000 people attended from 100 countries and territories.
- MWC26 Doha ran alongside the opening days of ITU PP-26.
- The GSMA Ministerial Programme included 86 delegations.
- Forty-two agreements and announcements were formalized.
- MWC27 Barcelona is scheduled for March 1 to 4, 2027.
A joint event for connectivity policy and industry
The GSMA event concluded in Qatar on November 11 after three days of plenary sessions, conferences, summits, networking and dealmaking. It was organized in collaboration with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, known as MCIT.
Participants examined how integrated intelligence, next-generation infrastructure and national digital strategies are reshaping the role of the Middle East and North Africa in the global connectivity ecosystem. The event brought together industry leaders, policymakers and regulators in Doha.
MWC26 Doha ran in parallel with the opening days of the International Telecommunication Union’s Plenipotentiary Conference, PP-26. The simultaneous events created a meeting point for global digital policymakers, operators, technology companies and investors, according to the GSMA.
Senior officials and industry leaders attended
The GSMA said its Ministerial Programme included 86 delegations, comprising 36 ministers and 34 heads of national regulatory authorities. In total, 74 countries and 12 intergovernmental organizations were represented through the programme.
Senior business participation included 14% of attendees at C-suite level and 37% at director level or above. The GSMA also said that 62% of attendees represented industries adjacent to the core mobile ecosystem, highlighting the event’s focus beyond traditional mobile companies.
There were 195 speakers across plenary sessions, summits and partner programmes. The exhibition site hosted approximately 100 exhibitors, sponsors and partners alongside ITU PP-26. The event also recorded more than 220 media representatives, content creators and industry analysts.
Deals announced as GSMA looks to its next events
Forty-two agreements and announcements were formalized in the event’s announcement room. The GSMA said the gathering was intended to connect digital policy discussions with the companies and organizations implementing connectivity strategies across the region.
GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin took part in a fireside discussion at MWC26 Doha. Sianne Ryder, GSMA Ltd’s chief executive for Events and Industry Services, said the joint timing enabled policymakers and regulators to interact directly with operators, technology companies and investors.
The GSMA’s next major event will be MWC27 Barcelona, scheduled for March 1 to 4, 2027, with registration already open. The organization also said it expects to welcome the region’s connectivity ecosystem back to Doha from November 15 to 17, 2027.
PR Newswire: El GSMA MWC26 Doha recibió a más de 10.000 asistentes
