30th Mobile World Congress opens in Barcelona

Models show the ZTE V7 device (L) and the Nubia Z9 (R) at the Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona,Spain, Feb 22, 2016. The Mobile World Congress (MWC), the most important mobile communication event in the world, opened its doors in Barcelona on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

BARCELONA -- The Mobile World Congress (MWC), the most important mobile communication event in the world, opened its doors in Barcelona on Monday.

This is the eleventh year Barcelona has hosted the MWC and the 2016 event is bigger than ever. 2,100 companies will be exhibiting their products and services and around 95,000 visitors expected over the four days of the congress, including government delegations from 160 countries.

The MWC covers 110,000 square meters of the Fira Gran Via exhibition center and is expected to create 13,000 short-term jobs and bring in 460 million euros ($507.25 million), up 5.5 percent from 2015.

The opening was preceded by a gala dinner at the Grand Theater of Liceu Theater in Barcelona on Sunday, which was attended by King Felipe VI of Spain and 160 guests.