# MWC26 Doha opens at DECC with GSMA and ITU leaders discussing MENA connectivity standards

- Published: 2026-11-09 02:56 UTC
- Section: Industry & People › Expos & events
- Tags: MWC26 Doha, GSMA, ITU PP-26, MENA connectivity, Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre, mobile economy 2030, global telecom standards, Vivek Badrinath, Qatar MCIT
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-2bbe885e490afe11132d996b_mwc26_doha_opens/

**The three-day MWC26 Doha opened on 8 November in Qatar. GSMA named global standards and connecting offline populations in MENA as its priorities.**

![MWC26 Doha opens at DECC with GSMA and ITU leaders discussing MENA connectivity standards](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/b503b8b5745cbd58.webp)
*adnkronos.com*

MWC26 Doha opened on 8 November 2026 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) in Qatar, according to a press release distributed via adnkronos.com [1]. The event is held in partnership with Qatar's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and runs for three days. Operators, technology leaders, policymakers and innovators are taking part in the exhibition and debate on connectivity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) [1].

The organisers state that the mobile economy is forecast to add $470 billion to MENA by 2030 [1]. This is the second edition of MWC Doha. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Qatar's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, gave the welcome address [1].

## Standards and offline populations

GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin held a fireside chat on stage. Badrinath named the priorities for the region's connected future: continued commitment to global standards that keep networks and services interoperable across markets, and a renewed push to extend connectivity to populations that remain offline in MENA [1].

In his words, progress only counts if everyone shares in it. He named two requirements: global standards that keep networks, services and devices working across borders, and a concerted effort to connect people who are still offline [1].

## Co-location with ITU PP-26

MWC Doha is co-located with ITU's PP-26 (the Plenipotentiary Conference), which continues in parallel. Badrinath said that over the three days the event will bring together the policymakers, innovators and industry leaders who set standards and build networks. According to him, GSMA is confident that the enhanced dialogue made possible by the co-location will feed into the discussions taking place at the Plenipotentiary [1].

In his opening remarks, Minister Al Mannai said that the requirements for telecommunications infrastructure are undergoing fundamental change. In his view, the need for more resilient networks and advanced computing capabilities continues to grow. He added that global challenges underscore the importance of diversifying connectivity routes and ensuring service continuity [1].

## Sources

1. [adnkronos.com](https://www.adnkronos.com/immediapress/pr-newswire/gsma-mwc26-doha-opens-with-call-to-align-on-global-industry-standards-and-close-menas-connectivity-gap_4RxgsdhrcgkGZeyBjH17ah)

---

Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-2bbe885e490afe11132d996b_mwc26_doha_opens/