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MWC Barcelona is back this March, and the buzz around the new technologies and innovations set to debut at the show is already making headlines.
As always, AI takes center stage. The excitement is palpable around AI-driven transformation initiatives and automation breakthroughs, from Telefónica and Mavenir’s new AI Innovation Hub for autonomous network orchestration, to Intel’s demonstrations of Edge AI for faster mobile networks, and Whispp’s real-time, on-device voice AI that turns whispers into natural speech.
But beyond the hype, MWC 2026 will be host to some of this year’s most truly groundbreaking technological reveals, ones that could potentially reshape the way we live, work, and connect.
In short, the best announcements from Barcelona this year won’t fit in your pocket.
From satellite connectivity innovations to immersive airports powered by 5G, and wearables and smartphones of the future, here’s a rundown of what we expect to be the show’s boldest breakthroughs.
Space takes center stage at the show
Satellite and non-terrestrial connectivity are emerging as key themes at MWC, and the SpaceX and Starlink teams will be present to show for it. Senior executives, including SpaceX President & COO Gwynne Shotwell and VP of Engineering Michael Nicolls, are confirmed speakers at the event, where they’re expected to discuss how low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations and satellite broadband integrate with global telecom networks and help extend connectivity beyond traditional coverage areas.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijian space agency Azercosmos is also participating in MWC 2026 for the first time with its own booth presence. At the event, Azercosmos plans to highlight its satellite communications services, Earth observation capabilities, and broader digital transformation solutions designed for governments, enterprises, and telecom operators across multiple regions including Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. This marks a milestone in its efforts to engage global connectivity partners and showcase space-enabled services that support infrastructure and digital inclusion projects.
Touching down at airports of the future
MWC 2026 will, for the first time, feature the Airport of the Future – a new chapter in MWC’s Journey to the Future series, spotlighting aviation as the first featured vertical.
Airport of the Future is an immersive exhibition experience offering a glimpse into how airports and air travel will transform in the coming decades through cutting-edge technology and seamless wireless connectivity. Featuring interactive, futuristic exhibits from leading innovators in the aviation ecosystem, visitors can journey through frictionless, personalised, futuristic air travel.
As part of this experience, Outsight’s full-scale Motional Digital Twin technology will be on showcase for visitors to view, where via advanced 3D LiDAR sensing, Outsight’s Spatial AI platform will create a digital replica of the exhibition area, which anonymously tracks the continuous movement of people and provides actionable insights into behaviour, queue dynamics, asset utilisation and overall operational performance. This is the first time this technology – implemented in major international airports worldwide – will be showcased at a tech event in a real-scale, live environment, demonstrating how airports accurately understand and manage passenger flows.
Ericsson steps up its AI game with new radio lineup
Ahead of MWC, the company will be introducing a new suite of radio, antenna, and AI RAN software solutions for communications service providers (CSPs), to be on showcase at the Ericsson pavilion at the show. The new products will enable telcos to monetize AI devices with differentiated connectivity and launch new services, comprising new AI-ready radios and Ericsson Silicon featuring neural network accelerators that boost AI inference capabilities in Massive MIMO radios.
Ericsson’s latest portfolio additions integrate AI more deeply into the RAN, enabling real-time optimization of performance and energy usage. With these AI-powered capabilities and a robust hardware lineup, CSPs can deliver consistent and differentiated user experiences. The portfolio is designed to capitalize on the growing demand for AI-enabled devices by providing superior uplink performance and service differentiation. Additionally, AI-driven efficiency across both hardware and software helps lower TCO and accelerates time to value.
Meta’s first immersive experience centre arrives at MWC
Meta, or Facebook, has been on the frontlines of MWC ever since 2015, but this year marks the arrival of its immersive Meta Labs experience at the event. Located outside between Halls 3 & 5, visitors can enter to experience a hands-on demo with Meta’s latest AI glasses and experience the latest innovations in wearable AI technology.
The company will continue the conversation on wearable innovation inside the main halls with several demos taking place over multiple days — including the Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses and other wearable form factors. It will also be taking to the stage to present on several related topics, from immersive technologies to operator ecosystems for connected wearables.
Fujitsu to showcase AI, HPC, network solutions — and Godzilla
Fujitsu and 1Finity will join MWC 2026 to highlight cutting-edge AI, network solutions, and a Godzilla visitor experience. Visitors can step in front of a green screen and mimic the iconic monster’s movements for 30 seconds, where Fujitsu’s high-precision skeletal recognition AI will be able to capture their motions and translate them into Godzilla wreaking havoc on a digital cityscape. The demo not only offers immersive fun but also illustrates practical AI-network use cases — such as AI-RAN managing GPU resources in emergencies and delivering real-time mobile alerts — showcasing Fujitsu and 1Finity’s vision for AI-driven, resilient, and sustainable societies.
Other highlights include FUJITSU-MONAKA, a 2nm Arm-based processor for AI and network workloads, multi-AI agent collaboration for supply chain optimization, rapid AI application building with Amalgamation AI, and AI field support agents for enterprise and network operations.
And most importantly, The Fast Mode will be there.
There’s a lot more left to MWC 2026, and this is just a brief preview of all the incredible innovations and exciting announcements that are scheduled for Barcelona next month.
To cover the rest of it all, The Fast Mode’s team of editors and analysts will be on the showfloor from March 2-5, making booth visits, running interviews, meeting representatives, and delivering extensive reporting of everything happening, as part of The Fast Mode’s annual MWC Live Story.
They’ll be on the exhibition floor, the speaker summits, the partner events — and everywhere in between. So if you bump into someone, don’t hesitate to reach out and say hello!
Visit The Fast Mode’s MWC Live Story for 2025 here.
Stay updated for MWC video coverage and new podcasts airing here.
For enquiries, contact tara.neal@thefastmode.com.