The Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2026 opened its doors on Wednesday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, bringing together technology companies, research institutions and industry leaders from over 100 countries and regions. The three-day event carries the theme “The IQ Era” and centers on mobile AI, 6G technology, embodied intelligence, smart healthcare, connected vehicles and satellite communications.
Ahead of the opening, the Global Systems for Mobile Communications Association released its Mobile Economy 2026 China report. The data showed that China accounts for more than 40 percent of global 5G connections. Mobile technology contributed 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars to China’s economy in 2025, representing 7.2 percent of the country’s GDP, and this figure is projected to reach 2.1 trillion dollars by 2030.
The conference features several notable highlights, including a penalty-kick competition involving humanoid robots, which organizers describe as the first such global event. The inaugural Global Mobile Awards Asia ceremony will also take place during the congress. A dedicated 6G zone and the “Future Constellation” satellite communications area are among the new additions to this year’s exhibition floor.
China’s three major telecommunications operators — China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom — have each obtained satellite communication licenses, according to exhibitor information at the venue. Companies including Huawei, ZTE, Honor, Qualcomm and Vodafone Asia are among the confirmed participants.
China has already deployed 5G-Advanced technology across more than 330 cities, with over 10 million users connected to the enhanced network, the GSMA report stated. The conference runs through June 26.
