Increased Attendance at Industry's Leading MobileCommunications Event by 20% over 2010

The GSMA today reported that more than 60,000* visitors from 200 countries attended the 2011 GSMA Mobile World Congress, marking a record for the mobile industry's premier event. The four-day conference and exhibition attracted executives from the world's largest and most influential mobile operators, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies and media and entertainment organisations, as well as government delegations. 51 per cent of this year's Mobile World Congress attendees hold C-level positions, including more than 3,000 CEOs.

    "The record attendance to this year's Mobile World Congress is indicative of the impact and importance of mobile in not only technology and telecommunications, but across nearly all facets of the private and public sectors," stated John Hoffman, CEO, GSMA Ltd. "Mobile truly is leading a transformation in how the world communicates, how business is conducted and how people live their lives. We are very proud of the contribution that the GSMA and the Mobile World Congress have in furthering this transformation."

    The 2011 Congress hosted nearly 1,400 exhibiting companies and occupied more than 58,600 net square metres of exhibition and business meeting space. More than 2,900 international print, Web and broadcast media attended the event to analyse and report on the many significant industry announcements made at the Congress.

    "The GSMA is committed to holding the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona through 2012," continued Hoffman. "We thank the city of Barcelona, the Government of Catalonia, Fira de Barcelona and all our Barcelona partners for supporting and contributing to such an amazing event, and we look forward to returning to the city next year."

    Dates for the 2012 Mobile World Congress are 27 February - 1 March, 2012.