London (ots/PRNewswire)

- World's Leading Mobile Showcase to Move From Cannes to Barcelona

Barcelona will be the new host city for the 3GSM World Congress
from 2006, announced the GSM Association (GSMA) today. The world's
largest annual mobile communications conference and exhibition will
bid farewell to Cannes at the close of next year's event (14-17
February 2005).

"With its unique ambiance, Cannes has been an outstanding host
over the last decade: indeed, it has become synonymous with the
Congress," said Rob Conway, CEO and Board Member of the GSM
Association. "As our industry has grown to serve more than a billion
people, the scale and scope of Congress has increased equally
dramatically."

Relocation comes in response to rising attendance and growing
demand for exhibition and conferencing space when Cannes has reached
full capacity. In 2004, the 3GSM World Congress attracted more than
600 exhibitors, over 28,000 visitors, 4,600 conference delegates, and
nearly 1,000 media.

Accessibility, hotel accommodation, the scale and quality of
exhibition space and associated services, public transport
infrastructure, overall cost of attending and the appeal to visitors
of the host city were among the many criteria considered by the GSMA
and its conference partner, Informa Telecoms & Media.

The venue selected for 2006, the Fira de Barcelona, offers nearly
100% more space than Cannes and delivers the capacity required to
accommodate the 40,000 visitors expected annually within the next few
years.

"The fact that the City will host a wireless communications event
of the calibre of the 3GSM World Congress is very important in
positioning Barcelona at the heart of the information society," said
Jordi Portabella, Second Deputy Mayor, Barcelona City Council.

As the global trade association representing mobile operators in
more than 200 countries, The GSMA is uniquely placed to provide a
forum where the mobile industry's most influential players can come
together to discuss the future of wireless communications. Its annual
Leadership Summit - the industry's strategy-setting gathering of CEOs
- takes place on the eve of the Congress while its annual awards
ceremony recognizing the latest innovations is another highlight of
Congress week.

"Barcelona has superb conference, business and service facilities
and the state-of-the-art communications and transport infrastructure
expected of a dynamic, world-leading city with a rich cosmopolitan
culture, heritage and lifestyle. With the fantastic support we have
received from the Town Council, the Catalonian Government, Turisme de
Barcelona, the city's hotel and restaurant associations and the Fira
itself, we can raise the 3GSM World Congress experience to a
completely new level for all exhibitors and visitors," said Conway.

About 3GSM World Congress 2005 - 14-17 February

Organised by the GSM Association and Informa Telecoms & Media,
the 3GSM World Congress is the world's leading mobile communications
conference and exhibition.

Held annually since 1987 and in Cannes, France, since 1996, the
event attracted more than 28,000 visitors, from 173 countries with
over 4,600 conference delegates, more than 600 exhibitors and 1000
media in 2004.

For full details of the Conference and Exhibition, or to
register for the 2005 Congress on-line, please visit
www.3gsmworldcongress.com

Media Accreditation: applications from qualified journalists
for media accreditation can be made via the website.

About the GSM Association

Please visit: http://www.gsmworld.com/news/boilerplate.html

Contact:

Ian Volans, Communications Manager, GSM Association, T:
+44-(0)7956-505-690, E: press@gsm.org; Kevin Taylor / Alex Sowden,
Companycare Communications, T: +44-(0)118-939-5900, E:
kevin.taylor@companycare.com / alex.sowden@companycare.com