US-Israel-Iran Conflict Disrupts MWC Barcelona

The MWC Barcelona (MWC) in Barcelona was significantly impacted by the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Airspace closures over Israel prevented approximately 30 Israeli companies, including AI security firm DeepKeep, from attending the trade fair. Thousands of prospective attendees also cancelled due to travel disruptions across the Middle East. Demonstrators protested outside the venue, calling for a boycott of Israel and the USA, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Despite these geopolitical tensions, the telecoms sector at MWC continued to focus on technological advancements such as direct-to-device satellite connectivity and generative artificial intelligence. Device makers like Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei showcased new products, even as the industry faces challenges like surging memory chip prices, which are expected to slow global smartphone sales growth.