What to expect
Telecommunications industry is entering a defining phase. Networks are becoming more autonomous, customer expectations more demanding and growth increasingly tied to how intelligent data, AI and emerging technologies are applied across the ecosystem.
At MWC 2026, IBM will show how telco leaders can move from incremental optimization to true reinvention, through AI and quantum technologies designed to scale across complex, mission-critical environments.
You’ll learn how to:
Build more autonomous, resilient networks
Deliver seamless customer and partner experiences with agentic AI
Innovate and secure with trusted quantum solutions
Unlock new revenue streams through smarter, connected industries
Visit IBM at MWC 2026, Hall 2, Booth #2H20 and explore AI and quantum built for telco scale.
Four ways to reinvent telco at scale
Fireside chats
Daily | IBM Booth | 20-minute sessions
Join us for short, TED talk-style conversations with clients and industry leaders who are transforming their businesses.
What you’ll gain:
Real-world perspectives on tackling complex telco challenges
Lessons learned from deploying AI at enterprise scale
Practical insights you can apply immediately
5 dedicated private solution labs
Daily | 10:00 AM—4:00 PM | IBM Booth
Experience innovation as it comes to life. IBM’s private solutions labs offer a collaborative setting for industry experts and technologists. Here, they demonstrate how AI, network automation, quantum technologies and new industry models are being applied to solve complex, real-world challenges in telecommunications.
More than a demo, these sessions invite dialog. Share your perspectives, explore tailored scenarios and see how advanced technologies can be deployed to drive meaningful outcomes across networks, operations and connected industries.
Fireside Chats
- 02 March
- 03 March
- 04 March
Speakers:
- Almudena Bonet, AI Product Manager, Telefónica Tech
- Jacobo Garnacho, Head of Data&AI Sales, IBM
- David Vilas Álvarez, Attorney General of the State
Speakers:
- Steve Gonzales, Director of Consulting Engineering, Palo Alto Networks
- Jim McGregor, TIRIAS Research
- Dinesh Nagarajan, Quantum Safe and Security for AI leader IBM Consulting Global
Speakers:
- Fran Heeran, Vice President & Head of Global Telecommunications Business @ Red Hat
- Eoin Coughlan, Global CTO & Industry Lead, Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment, IBM
Speakers:
- Juan Corro, General Manager, Informática Ayuntamiento de Madrid
- Alicia Richart, Public Sector Partner, IBM Consulting
Speakers:
- Miguel Angel González Doval , Chief Digital and Technology Officer Retail & Mobility, MOEVE
- José Miguel Rico, Industrial & Distribution Leader, IBM Consulting Spain, Portugal, Greece & Israel
Speakers:
- Ayachika Kitazaki , Deputy Manager, Operations & Planning Division, Network Operation Division, SoftBank
- Aaron Boasman-Patel, VP, Innovation, TM Forum
- Rahul Kumar, Senior Partner & Vice President - Global Industry Leader for Telco & Media Industry, IBM
Speakers:
- Sharat Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Business
- Rakhee Chachra, Global Research Leader –TME IBV
- Rahul Kumar, Global Industry Leader , Telco & Media Industry, IBM Consulting
Speakers:
- Ludovic Hazard - HPE Networking CTO
- Larry Baird , Vice President WW Sales, InfraStructure Delivery & Automation IBM
Speakers:
- Luq Niazi, Global Managing Partner, Industries, IBM Consulting
- Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Idea Limited
Speakers:
- John Henriksen, CEO, B2B Business TDC Erhverv (Nuuday)
- Rakhee Chachra, Global Research Leader, TME IBV
- Peter Jarich, Head of GSMA Intelligence
Speakers:
- David Prieto, Head of Data,Identity & IA Security, Telefonica Tech
- Leopoldo Andres, Principal zStack Technical Sales Manager, SPGI
Speakers:
- Harrison Lung , Group Chief Strategy Officer e&
- Eoin Coughlan, Global CTO & Industry Lead, Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment, IBM
Speakers:
- Adolfo Morais, Deputy Minister for Science and Innovation, BasQ Government
- Mikel Díez, Spain Strategic Partnership Executive, IBM Quantum
Speakers:
- Evgeni Gousev, Vice President Technology, Qualcomm
- Eoin Coughlan, Global CTO & Industry Lead, Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment, IBM
Speakers:
- Rakhee A. Chachra, Global Research Leader TME, IBM IBV
- Panelist: Tomás Alonso Marcos, Business Development & Strategic Advisor at BlueTab, an IBM company
- Ana Lopez Amat, Director of the Small Business and Self-Employed Division, MasOrange
Speakers:
- Nikilesh Eswarapu. Adobe Practice Lead, Telecom and Media
- Pierre Charchaflian, Vice President, Senior Partner, Global Marketing Offering Leader, IBM
New at MWC 2026: Senior leadership exchange
An exclusive, invitation-only experience designed for senior leaders to engage in strategic discussions, exchange perspectives with peers and explore the forces shaping the future of the telco industry.
Participants benefit from private networking opportunities. They also gain direct engagement with IBM senior executives in a confidential, high‑level setting.
Limited availability.
Quantum at the heart of IBM
Experience the IBM Quantum Chandelier, a powerful visual and experiential representation of how quantum computing is moving from theory to enterprise reality.
Learn how quantum will shape the future of:
Network optimization
Security and cryptography
Complex decision-making at scale
Meet IBM at MWC 2026
Connect with IBM industry leaders, technologists and strategists to explore how AI and quantum can help you reinvent your business—not just optimize it.
More information soon.