Doha to Host Global Telecom Powerhouse: MWC26 Doha and UN’s ITU PP-26 Join Forces at DECC
DOHA — In a landmark first-of-its-kind collaboration, the GSMA and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have announced that MWC26 Doha will co-locate alongside the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) in November 2026.
The historic co-location brings together global private-sector industry leaders, technology executives, telecommunications ministers, and international regulatory delegations for an unprecedented month of high-level policy setting and next-generation connectivity showcases in Qatar.
Event Timeline & Strategic Hosting:
MWC26 Doha (8–10 November 2026): Organized in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the exhibition will feature AI-powered digital infrastructure, telecom enterprise solutions, and the flagship GSMA Ministerial Programme to shape global digital governance and investment priorities.
ITU PP-26 (9–27 November 2026): Hosted by Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), the Plenipotentiary Conference convenes the ITU’s 194 Member States every four years to set international strategic directives, elect leadership, allocate spectrum frameworks, and establish digital policies.
The adjoining layouts at DECC will enable PP-26 government delegates to directly experience commercial innovations spanning 5G-Advanced, 6G research, sovereign cloud, and enterprise AI on the MWC exhibition floor.
"In this Plenipotentiary year, Qatar is set to become a global hub for digital ambition and cooperation," Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, said in an official statement. She noted that hosting MWC Doha and PP-26 back-to-back offers an unmissable opportunity to translate public-private momentum into real digital impact.
H.E. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai, Minister of Communications and Information Technology of Qatar, emphasized: "We are proud to host both MWC26 Doha and the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference simultaneously this year, a reflection of our country’s growing role in shaping global connectivity and telecommunications policy. This dual hosting reinforces Qatar’s commitment to the goals of the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030."
Building on the debut edition in 2025—which welcomed over 9,000 attendees from 110 countries—the 2026 dual-event summit positions Doha as the epicenter of global telecommunications governance and technological innovation.
