But as August rolls in, the distant drumbeat of MWC Barcelona begins again. Before the madness of the “telecoms silly season” hits in early February, now is the time to focus on one of the most critical early milestones: speaker submissions.
The GSMA’s Call for Speakers is due to open in the next week, giving companies the chance to pitch standout session ideas and hopefully land a coveted spot for one of their executives on stage. But, competition is fierce and getting fiercer. The content team are looking for ideas that are fresh, bold, and relevant, stretching beyond the comfort zone of telecoms jargon and into real-world impact.
Having supported clients through 25+ MWCs (yes, really), we’ve distilled our experience into three essential rules for creating speaker submissions that get noticed – and selected.
1. Hit the Requirements, Every Time
It sounds obvious, but many submissions fail at the first hurdle by ignoring the criteria. The GSMA places genuine emphasis on diversity and representation. This includes gender, geography, background, and industry.
If your proposal includes voices that have typically been underrepresented – whether it’s a rising talent, someone from an emerging market, or a fresh perspective from a non-traditional partner – you’re far more likely to get traction. Now is the time to elevate those who haven’t had the stage before.
2. Be Real, Representative, Relevant
Telecoms often fall into the trap of hyping technology before it’s ready. The result? Vague, repetitive sessions that leave audiences uninspired.
The GSMA sets the agenda based on pertinent trends and prioritises evidence-based stories grounded in actual progress. Ensure your ideas fit within the GSMA’s agenda and focus on real-world use cases, measurable success, and scalable outcomes. Bonus points if you can include data on ROI, adoption rates, or societal impact. Better still, bring along a customer or partner to co-present for a broader perspective.
3. Be Creative and Collaborative
Think beyond the standard PowerPoint monologue. A creative session format can make all the difference – especially when you’re up against the post-lunch slump. Sessions that feel like conversations, not lectures are more likely to be remembered – and selected.
Rejected? It’s Not the End
Thousands of submissions are received each year, and the GSMA content team is constantly curating, merging, and reworking proposals to build the most compelling agenda. Sometimes, a proposal may be rejected, but the speaker offered an opportunity to contribute to a session around a similar topic, so all is not lost.
Often, the content team may be interested in your speaker but want to mix up the format to keep the agenda varied, so stay flexible and you might still get your moment in the spotlight.
We’ve worked closely with the GSMA content team for nearly two decades and know what captures their attention. We’ve helped secure 100+ speaking slots for companies across the industry – from emerging vendors to global operators like BT.
If you want to strengthen your submission, refine your messaging, or just bounce around ideas before the telecoms silly season kicks in – get in touch. We’re here to help you take the stage.
