As a former CTO of a major MNO, I have been going to the MWC for many years.. since its early days at Cannes.. and when it used to be known as the GSM Congress, in fact. It was something one did. Once a year, like pilgrimage, one just went. Your PA booked your flights and hotels for the following year almost as soon as you returned from the congress.

You know what? I’ve always had mixed feelings about it. On the plane back home, on the Thursday afternoon, I used to think, once again, that I didn’t quite get what I wanted out of the trip.

On the one hand, it was and still is great just being there. Without doubt, ‘the’ event of the year for the Mobile industry. One place, one time, where all players come together. An annual celebration of the success of Mobile – let’s not be modest here; Mobile has changed the lives of people – as well as a commercial trade fair where businesses talk to one another under one roof, quickly and efficiently. Well done, GSMA!

On the other hand, one’s schedule was predetermined. Your meetings had been planned. Your Tuesday and Wednesday were taken up by formal meetings with companies and people who you saw quite a few times during the year – people you did or might do business with … people who you saw several times outside of the conference, anyway.

So, you only had the Thursday morning to do something different.. when people are beginning to pack up and get ready to go home! OK, now you can see why I sat on the plane Thursday afternoon having mixed feelings.

For me, it will be different this year. Having stopped full-time, executive working last year, I am going to Barcelona as Chairman of Azenby, a specialist wireless advisory firm based in London and a guest of GSMA.. who have asked me to chair, to moderate a discussion panel on Emerging Network Business Models.

The session is, provocatively, called “Whose Network Is It”. You will know that this was not by accident, if you happen to know me and what I’ve been up to during the last 4-5 years. If you want to find out who is on my discussion panel and what they think about the future of our industry, watch this space. One thing is for sure. This will not be a techy session but a ‘business discussion’. It’s about re-shaping/evolving our industry. It will be a real discussion amongst 4-5 people with ideas, strategies, plans, and indeed, initiatives actually in action.

All in all, it will not be one of my usual trips to Barcelona this year. Watch this space.