Major European telecommunications, technology companies and industry players will kick off Mobile World Congress 2025 at the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) high-level session that will chart Europe’s course toward digital leadership.
Industry players including Nokia, Ericsson, Airbus, Orange, Scaleway, 5G Automotive Association and the Port of Barcelona will gather for the session titled "Digital Infrastructure of the Future: Shaping Europe’s Competitive Edge" on Monday, 3 March 2025, in Hall 6 at Marconi Stage (Conference Stage A), from 09:00 to 10:15 CET.
This session, organized by SNS JU, the EU public-private partnership advancing leadership in 5G and 6G, will showcase Europe’s comprehensive strategy for digital transformation, focusing on pioneering 6G development while building a converged connected computing continuum (3C networks). By bringing together network providers, technology developers, and industry users, the session will showcase how advanced digital infrastructure can enhance the competitiveness of European industries both developing and deploying future connectivity services.
Opening keynotes will be delivered by Renate Nikolay, Deputy Director-General in DG CONNECT, European Commission, and Colin Willcock, Chairman of the 6G Industry Association Board (6G-IA) and Vice-Chair of the SNS JU Governing Board.
The session is structured around two complementary panel discussions that together showcase Europe’s comprehensive vision for future digital infrastructure:
- The first panel, "Future connectivity: Connected, Collaborative Computing Networks," features executives from Orange, Nokia, Ericsson, and Scaleway, who will explore technological breakthroughs and business strategies for European leadership in 6G and Connected Collaborative Computing Networks (3C).
- The second panel, "Digital Infrastructure in Practice: Use Cases for Europe’s industrial competitiveness," features important speakers from Europe’s strategic sectors - including the automotive industry (5G Automotive Association), aerospace (Airbus Defence and Space), and smart ports (Port of Barcelona). These industry leaders will showcase how combining AI and edge with advanced networks enables real-time, instant-response applications that are transforming everything from self-driving cars and railways to port operations. Through practical examples, they’ll demonstrate how Europe’s next-generation digital infrastructure is driving innovation across key industries.
Distinguished speakers joining the first panel on "Future Connectivity" include:
- Damien Lucas, CEO at Scaleway
- Peter Vetter, President of Nokia Bell Labs Core Research
- Magnus Frodigh, Vice President & Head of Ericsson Research
- Claire Chauvin, Strategy Architecture and Standardization Director at Orange
The second panel, focusing on "Digital Infrastructure in Practice," features leaders from key vertical industries:
- Maxime Flament, CTO at 5G Automotive Association (5GAA)
- Quentin Van De Geer, VP Engineering, Airbus Defence and Space
- Catalina Grimalt Falcó, Director General of Barcelona Port Innovation
Erzsébet Fitori, the SNS JU Executive Director and session moderator, stated: "Starting MWC2025 with this crucial dialogue demonstrates Europe’s commitment to digital leadership. In this session we’re showcasing how Europe is actively shaping the future of digital infrastructure and strengthening its position as a global technology leader.”
The event will also showcase European research and innovation projects presence at MWC25 advancing digital infrastructure capabilities.
About SNS JU
The European Smart Networks and Services JU (SNS JU) is a Joint Undertaking established in 2021 by the European Union. This EU Partnership is jointly led by the EU Commission and the 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association (6G-IA). The mix of public and industry interest makes the Smart Network and Services Joint Undertaking the right platform for collaboration and the right instrument to foster world-class research and innovation on next-generation networks and services. The SNS JU fosters alignment and synergies with Member States on 6G Research and Innovation Programmes and favours international cooperation towards setting a 6G global standard. For more information about the SNS JU, please visit https://smart-networks.europa.eu.
