We have analysed a sample of media and analyst coverage from this year’s show to understand the themes that dominated the headlines, and how vendors show up at such an important yet competitive event.
Prepare your story early
In the lead up to MWC 2024, coverage gained momentum in the second half of February, with the number of articles doubling across core telecoms media. Two weeks out from the event, interest was piquing towards the vendors, operators and OEMs that would be showcasing their technologies and innovations at MWC.
On the first day of the event, unsurprisingly coverage peaked, with more than 100 articles focused on MWC. Clearly, a combination of embargoes lifting, and journalists racing to cover breaking news from the show floor.
This analysis of coverage shows the importance of engaging with the press ahead of time. It arms journalists with what they need to cover your news in the “quieter” run up period two weeks prior to MWC, where attention turns to the event but isn’t too noisy. Or, it ensures they have enough time to prepare and include your news in round-ups on day one of the event.
Which announcements did well?
Our analysis found that partnership announcements landed well, and made up over one-fifth of MWC coverage. Companies are increasingly leveraging alliances to showcase combined strengths and highlight successful collaborations backed by data.
On the flip side, we found announcements covering research and M&A made up just 14% of MWC coverage. While research announcements can perform well at other times, at events like MWC that are particularly noisy and dominated by large operators and OEMs, they do not land in the same way. We typically advise clients to keep this type of news for after the event to get the most out of it.
Ultimately, MWC news is dominated by product announcements–from OEMs and handset manufacturers that are launching the latest and greatest mobile devices.
Major themes
Artificial intelligence, 5G technology, and cybersecurity emerged as the top conversation drivers at MWC 2024. These themes dominated discussions both on the show floor and in media articles, reflecting the industry’s growing focus on advanced connectivity, automation and data protection. For brands wanting to resonate with the media at MWC, aligning with these high-interest topics will help boost their coverage.
Lessons learned for MWC 2025
MWC remains a dynamic platform for innovation in the world of telecoms, and these insights from 2024 provide a roadmap for vendors to maximise their media impact for next year’s event.
For more information, and for full access to our report into MWC 2024, click here.
