MWC Summary... The Biggest Issues Are 'Metaverse, 5G Networks, and Semiconductors'

Samsung Electronics, SKT, and Others Present Metaverse
Semiconductor Chips Supplied for Space Probes
New 5G Network Technologies Introduced

The scene on the second day of the opening of 'MWC 2022' held in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibition hall is bustling with visitors.

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] The three key themes that dominated the recently concluded Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2022 on the 3rd (local time) were the extended virtual world (Metaverse), 5G networks, and semiconductor technology.

The Biggest Issue: ‘Metaverse’

According to industry sources on the 4th, this year’s MWC 2022 focused on virtual worlds represented by the metaverse and extended reality (XR) content. Meta (Facebook), the leader in the metaverse industry with its ‘Oculus’ series, attended the MWC event to directly recruit collaboration partners. Taiwanese virtual reality (VR) specialist HTC unveiled its own metaverse platform ‘Viverse’ and supported the purchase of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other metaverse services using Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Samsung Electronics also mentioned plans to develop metaverse devices for the first time. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jong-hee Han stated, "The metaverse platform is a hot topic these days," adding, "Samsung Electronics is also preparing for it." SK Telecom presented the metaverse as the global technology trend after 5G and revealed a blueprint to launch its metaverse platform ‘ifland’ in 80 countries.

Visitors are boarding the simulator for the 4D metaverse experience at the SK Telecom exhibition hall set up at MWC 2022.

As a foundation for this, the importance of stable and seamless ‘5G connectivity’ was also emphasized. Meta Vice President Rabinovitch said at MWC, "To build a truly immersive metaverse for users, faster communication speeds are necessary," and added, "Meta is working closely with telecommunications industry partners to consider the next steps for innovation." Laptops also evolved to support 5G mobile communication. Representative examples include Samsung’s ‘Galaxy Book2 Pro 360,’ which resembles a smartphone, and the ‘Galaxy Book2 Pro,’ which supports 5G connectivity.

Intensified Competition in Next-Generation Semiconductors

The new product 'ThinkPad X13s' jointly developed by Lenovo and Qualcomm. The first laptop equipped with the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3.

The competition in next-generation semiconductors underlying 5G networks has also intensified. Qualcomm is expanding the 5G connectivity market by supplying semiconductor chips not only for smartphones but also for laptops and space exploration vehicles. Qualcomm unveiled the new ‘Snapdragon X70’ and announced that new mobile devices equipped with it will be released this year. It introduced downlink 4CA (carrier aggregation) technology achievable in 5G standalone mode (SA), which is regarded as ‘real 5G.’ Qualcomm also showcased the first compatible chip for Wi-Fi 7, the ‘FastConnect 7800.’ This chip theoretically processes up to 5.8 gigabytes (Gb) per second with low latency and offers speeds 2 to 3 times faster than Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 7 compatible products are expected to be released in 2023.

Samsung 'Galaxy Book2 Pro' 13-inch supporting 5G communication

Equipment manufacturer Ericsson exhibited its 4th generation 64TR X 5G base station equipment. This reduces power consumption by about 30% and can use a 400MHz bandwidth. Huawei leads in 64TR equipment, and other manufacturers such as Samsung are also accelerating development. Huawei introduced its latest wireless solutions and intelligent RAN (Radio Access Network) architecture products. CEOs of Korea’s three major telecom companies also showed keen interest by visiting Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Huawei booths first, as equipment performance greatly affects 5G call quality and is directly linked to the ranking among the three companies. Additionally, new technologies based on 5G networks were introduced one after another. Growing concern for the climate environment also brought ‘Smart Green’ among the key themes.

MWC this year was held successfully despite COVID-19 concerns, with participation from about 1,500 companies from over 150 countries. Some expressed concerns about differentiation from CES held in Las Vegas, USA, in January, but the event was seen as reborn as a ‘ground for innovation’ focusing more on comprehensive IT technologies beyond mobile and telecommunications. The KT Economic Management Research Institute noted, "While CES showcased various future technologies for B2C, MWC introduced cases of collaboration with other industries and related technologies in vertical sectors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.