GSMA, the association that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide and produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, has announced today that it has partnered with the wireless association CTIA to create a new mobile industry event in the United States (via PC World). The new trade show will be called “GSMA Mobile World Congress Americas, in partnership with CTIA” and will debut on September 12-14, 2017 in San Francisco.
According to the press release, CTIA and the GSMA are equal partners in the joint event “with the GSMA leading the event’s production and management.” While CTIA will still hold its Super Mobility event in Las Vegas on September 7-9, 2016, the new joint event will act as a replacement starting next year and GSMA expects the inaugural Mobile World Congress Americas to “attract 30,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors.” GSMA CEO John Hoffman also shared the following statement:
“We are very excited to be partnering with CTIA to create our first large-scale event in the United States. The North American mobile industry has been the strongest performing of any developed region globally, leading innovation in hardware, access technologies, operating systems and new apps and services that are scaling rapidly and changing how individuals live and work. Mobile World Congress Americas will put a spotlight on this innovation and will support the continued growth of the mobile ecosystem in the region.”
While this new event won’t equal GSMA’s flagship event in Barcelona, the association explained that the conference will feature “C-level speakers and leading industry experts” as well as an exhibition showing the latest mobile technologies, a regulatory and public policy program, partner events and more. Glenn Lurie, Chairman of the Board of CTIA and President and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Operations added that “we expect it to be a showcase for new technology as well as an ideal place to do business.” Let us know in the comments if you think the US mobile industry can benefit from this new global wireless event in the country.
