14th Global Mobile Broadband Forum - MBBF 2023 - Highlights
The Global Mobile Broadband Forum - MBBF 2023 opened in Dubai, UAE on 10th October 2023. The event, hosted by Huawei in cooperation with GSMA, GTI, and the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, themed Bring 5.5G into reality, is the 14th edition which brings together key stakeholders and ICT industry leaders across the globe annually to discuss the development direction of the mobile communications industry and the infinite possibilities of mobile connectivity.
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The two-day event, categorized into keynotes, industry summits, and innovation exhibitions began with keynote addresses from a strong line up by senior Huawei executives and the region’s most influential telecoms organizations and industry leaders highlighting key 5G rollout successes in their areas of operation and shared insights into how 5G has been adopted across sectors.
Rotating Chairman of Huawei, Mr Ken Hu and Director of GSMA, Mats Granryd, kickstarted the keynote session virtually from Shenzhen and London respectively, in order to share their insights into how 5G integrated innovation builds a digital world.
Highlighting the speed at which 5G is evolving, Mr Ken Hu, said " it's clear that the adoption of 5G is much faster than 4G and now we have around 1.5 billion 5G users around the world which is really amazing."
He further stated that “Technology is changing so fast, and new demands are evolving every day, So our networks need to keep evolving too. Our industry as a whole, needs to get ready for the future and maximize the value of investments in 5G – and that’s why we’re working so hard on 5G-Advanced.”
Engineer Said Bin Ghelaita, the executive director of Technology Development Affairs at The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority - (TDRA), UAE in his keynote address outlined 5G successes and lessons learnt so far in the UAE since it was deployed. He stated that by deepening network technology innovation, accelerating the deployment of 5G advanced technologies, and promoting maturity related products, the region will continue in its role as a global 5G Pioneer.
He was followed by the chief commercial officer of UAE’s operator DU, Mr Karim Benkirane who revealed plans for 5G Advanced (5.5G) and successes DU has seen with fixed wireless access services over the years.
The executive Chairman of CCS Insight a research and market analysis company, Mr Shaun Collins on his part, gave an overview of latest trends driving change with some insights into the private network market and opportunities there in.
Speaking on 5G generating revenue, Mr Alex Sinclair, the Chief Technology Officer, GSMA said “As we look to the future, 5G and 5G Advanced will take center stage for many years to come." He reminded audience not to forget, we're only 4 years into the lifecycle of the technology, with lots more opportunity left to discover.
Other prominent industry leaders such as Vodafone Italia’s Chief Network Officer & Head of Mobile Access – Marco Zangani; Bruce Lam; CEO Consumer - Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd addressed 5G monetization; and Unleashing the power of 5.5 G and accelerating the future of the O2O ecosystem respectively.
The keynote sessions ended with Mr. Li Peng, Huawei's Corporate Senior Vice President, and President of the company's Carrier BG, urging global carriers and industry partners to rise to the occasion and address increasing demands on networks and make the most of the future trends. "Let's start today, build tomorrow's networks for future services, and unleash 5G's infinite potential for continuous success," he said.
Focused Group Discussions
The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2023, also featured specialized focused group discussions such as the 5G industry summit which reviewed the need for the coordinated development of policies, ecosystems and networks to accelerate global 5G development. While all bands to 5G Summit discussed the concept, the successful stories, and the evolution path of high-quality network construction to seek sustainable 5G development and greater 5G business success.
5G indoor roundtable
A 5G indoor round table saw industry organisation, operators and analysts discuss industry progress, successful practices, and service planning of indoor 5G and the path ahead to building 5.5 G indoor wireless networks.
Huawei CTO roundtable
Huawei's prestigious CTO roundtable also took place on day one, where CTOs from various mobile industries shared 5G best practices and explored 5G Advanced.
Exhibition Booths
Aside the keynotes and focused industry summit sessions, MBBF2023 also featured exhibition booths showcasing various innovations made possible by 5G and its next evolution 5G Advanced which gave attendees a better understanding of the endless possibilities that increased speed and low latency can unveil. From the self-driving car that delivers goods and prompts you when it arrives already in operation in China, autonomous inventory management that can revolutionize inventory taking in warehouses, to Glass free 3D screens, the model home of the future and the 5.5G Cafe among others.
Media Round Table & Huawei's Commitment
Huawei's president of wireless solutions Mr Cao Ming - engaged the media on day two after several other addresses by industry leaders. While responding to questions, Mr Cao Ming said "Huawei recognizes that different countries are at different levels of development and Huawei is committed and dedicated to providing different and diverse solutions for different scenarios and markets".
Conclusion
The mobile broadband forum 2023 - MBBF 2023 offered a consumers, businesses and telecom operators, a glimpse into a future where technology surpasses existing boundaries and facilitates new possibilities that will reshape societies and economies. As the industry absorbs these insights, the path towards 5.5G-Advanced becomes clearer, promising a future where connectivity is not just ubiquitous but intelligent to ensure a digital society that is truly inclusive, immersive, and transformative. The 14th Global Mobile Broadband Forum stands as a testament to Huawei’s commitment to leading this charge by setting the stage for a digital revolution that will echo through the future.