HASC News
Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the most significant and highly anticipated events on the global tech calendar, drawing thousands of leaders, policymakers, founders, and innovators from across the telecom industry. Held annually in Barcelona, MWC serves as a premier gathering for exhibitors and delegates from around the world. This year’s theme, “Converge, Connect and Create,” resonated strongly with the mission of HASC and our partners within the Federated Telecoms Hubs.
Our team had the privilege of fully immersing ourselves in the world of communications over the course of four inspiring days. We engaged in high-quality discussions with a diverse array of forward-thinking individuals and organisations, furthering our collective understanding of the industry. While the event was undoubtedly a productive and enriching experience, it certainly didn’t feel like work.
Among the key topics dominating the conversation were 5G and 6G, alongside artificial intelligence, and the profound impact these emerging technologies will have on the future of communications.
World Leading Telecoms Research & Innovation Meets Industry
The HASC team attended MWC alongside our partners from across the Federated Telecoms Hubs, including:
- TITAN, experts leading the way in a fully integrated Network of Networks (Non)
- CHEDDAR, a research project dedicated to advancing future communications via empowering distributed cloud computing applications
- JOINER. JOINER connects the research labs of HASC, CHEDDAR and TITAN as well as other ‘centres of excellence’ into one collaborative test environment.
We were proud to be part of the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) UK Innovation Stand, shining a spotlight on the groundbreaking research and innovation happening across the UK. Each Hub brought its own area of expertise to life with demonstrations, offering a glimpse into the future of telecommunications from every angle. For industry delegates, this was more than just a showcase — it was a chance to see cutting-edge technology in action, innovations that will eventually shape new products, transform our infrastructure, and redefine the possibilities in communications. The stand was busy from day one and the excitement surrounding the exhibits on show is testament to the appetite for continued advancement in these areas.
Our Research Showcase: All-Spectrum Connectivity
Traditional Wi-Fi is now overcrowded, slow, and prone to interference which results in poor experiences and is limiting when it comes to modern levels of demand and newer technologies. This is the reason for our research. Here at HASC, we are focused on how to combine wired and wireless internet technologies to achieve optimal end-to-end connectivity so that the industry can continue to grow.
Our research showcase provided an opportunity for visitors to gain access to the world’s most cutting-edge research in the field of all-spectrum connectivity, telecoms technology and the UK’s developing communications infrastructure.
Here’s a glance at some of the great projects we presented at the show.
Virtual Fibre with Wireless Light Communication
Oxford demonstrates a “virtual fibre” – a wireless optical link that connects two terminals using light instead of physical fibre.
Rate Splitting Multiple Access
Rate-Splitting Multiple Access (RSMA) is a game-changing signal processing technique that optimises spectrum use, reduces interference, and enhances both communication and sensing in next-gen networks. >> Watch now
Ultra-low Latency Switched Fronthaul Networks
This research from Bristol is revolutionising radio access networks with ultra-low latency switched fronthaul, hollow-core fibre, and intelligent network management with AI. This groundbreaking research aims to enhance network resilience, energy efficiency, and flexibility, paving the way for next generation 5G and 6G applications. >> Watch now
Wavelength Division Multiplexing Li Fi 100 Gbps
University of Cambridge introduces wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) Li-Fi, delivering speeds of 40-100 Gbps using laser-powered light-based communication. >> Watch now
Voices from the HASC Team
The attending members from the HASC team, led by Professor Dominic O’Brien (MA PhD, Professor of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science) included:
- Vanessa Wood (Post-5G Communications Researcher)
- Emad M. Grais (Research Associate, in Machine Learning and Autonomous Manufacturing Systems, Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering at The University of Sheffield, UK)
- Anthony Reece-Thompson (HASC Programme Manager)
We caught up with the team for their thoughts and feedback from the show.
Vanessa Wood
“When the opportunity arose to attend the mammoth event that is MWC, I jumped at it. Cutting-edge technology from across the communications world condensed into one room, or more like eight aircraft hangars!
Having joined Queen’s University Belfast last year as a Research Fellow in Terahertz Channel Modelling, I was particularly interested in gauging future market trends. What applications are companies considering in the wider spectrum?
One exciting example was a demo from Elmo and Nokia, where attendees were given the chance to drive a car that was 3,000 km away using a 5G link. Novel uses such as this will continue to drive innovation across the spectrum, and keep researchers like me entertained!” – Vanessa Wood
CONNECT WITH VANESSA:
LinkedIn: Vanessa Wood | LinkedIn
Centre for Wireless Innovation CWI: (1) Centre for Wireless Innovation (CWI) | Queen’s University Belfast: Posts | LinkedIn
Emad M. Grais
“I am originally an AI researcher with experience in applying AI to audio signal processing, health science, and advanced manufacturing. Currently, my focus is on leveraging AI for wireless communications. Attending MWC2025 was a fantastic opportunity to explore the latest trends in the communications industry and gain insights into the challenges shaping the field.
As I engaged with exhibitors at the MWC2025, I was particularly impressed by the diverse applications of AI in wireless communication. Companies like Orange, Intel, Dell Technologies and Qualcomm are actively integrating AI into their technologies, showcasing its growing role in the industry.
After attending the event, I have gained a deeper understanding of AI for wireless communications and now have a clearer direction on where to find relevant resources to further advance my work in this area.” – Emad Grais
CONNECT WITH EMAD:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emad-m-grais-9a470353/
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gnoiXJcAAAAJ&hl=en
Anthony Reece-Thompson
“MWC provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our consortium’s strengths. We attended as part of the Federated Telecoms Hub (FTH) UK stand alongside our hub partners, CHEDDAR, TITAN, and JOINER. Our stand featured a range of expertly crafted experiments, animated explainer videos, and technical presentations that sparked numerous productive conversations and established key contacts.
We engaged with both local and international UK suppliers, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and technical experts about our work integrating internet technologies to achieve end-to-end connectivity. We look forward to participating in future events and extend our gratitude to all our HASC and FTH partners for their contributions to making this event a success”. – Anthony Reece-Thompson
Highlights from the Show
Although MWC is primarily a trade show, it is not only about business-to-business sales. In our case, it is also about education and the cultivation of important partnerships bridging industry and academia. It is an opportunity for us to share our findings and encourages the collaboration that is so vital in the pursuit of continued innovation.
Amongst some of the most interesting meetings, we had a couple of notable VIP moments, including a visit from Catherine Page OBE (Deputy Director in the Department for Science) who came to discuss the research from the HASC hub and the other Federated Telecoms Hubs. As Deputy Director in the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DIST), Catherine is a colleague and part of the funding body making our work possible, so it was a real pleasure to welcome her.
We also welcomed Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton CBE (Minister for Investment). Prior to entering government, Baroness Gustafsson was part of the team who founded Darktrace in 2013 and brought its AI-powered cybersecurity solutions to market, so we were thrilled to have her visit our stand and take an interest in our research.
Industry Trends: Artificial Intelligence (AI)
What was the most talked-about topic at this year’s Mobile World Congress? Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage as the dominant trend throughout the event. AI advancements and examples of integrated technologies were pervasive, not only in our own demonstrations and research but across the entire exhibition.
AI is rapidly reshaping industries worldwide, and telecommunications is no exception. In this sector, AI is enhancing network efficiency, automating tasks and services, and enabling predictive maintenance. It is also powering advanced analytics and processing large datasets. Remarkably, it is even being used to operate vehicles remotely, with 5G facilitating control from distances of up to 3,000 kilometers. Ultimately, the aim is to optimize user experiences and drive continuous innovation throughout the industry.
The pace at which technology and communications are evolving is staggering, which highlights the importance of events like Mobile World Congress. They provide a valuable opportunity to forge crucial connections, stay informed about the latest breakthroughs, and understand the real-world challenges faced by individuals and businesses alike. We thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable event and eagerly look forward to future opportunities to engage and innovate.
Join the Community
Overall, MWC2025 has been an incredible experience. We very much look forward to engaging further with all the people we met and continuing the conversation.
If you would like to see more about the work we are doing you can sign up for regular updates by completing the form at the bottom of this page or connect with us on LinkedIn.
Relevant Upcoming Events
Check out these upcoming events for more opportunities to get involved:
Connected Futures – 26th March 2025 – Join the University of Bristol and its partners in JOINER, REASON and EPSRC Federated Hubs to learn, debate and discover what our future connected world can enable.
https://joiner.org.uk/connected-futures-festival/
Cambridge 6G Symposium – 27th-28th March 2025 – With keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the symposium aims to bridge the gap between research, regulation, and real-world deployment, contributing to the advancement of a globally connected future.
https://www.titancambridge.com/events/cambridge-6g-symposium/