Q&A with Iain Morris of Light Reading - The News Editor's View

Roughly how many briefings are you looking to take at MWC?
Every year, I tell myself I won’t take too many — maybe around four per day —but it always ends up being more. Realistically, I’ll probably do five or six per day, so around fifteen to eighteen across the three main days. I already have ten meetings locked in, so I only have a slot or two left each day.

I also try to leave enough time to write up articles daily. If I take too many briefings, I end up with more material than I can realistically use.

I prioritise meetings with the major vendors and big operators, but I’ll also take one or two briefings with lesser-known companies if they’re working on something that genuinely interests me.

Which topics are you most interested in hearing about?
It’s a mobile show, so my focus is primarily on the RAN, with AI-RAN being a particularly area of interest, particularly with many companies in the OpenRAN space scaling back.  

6G is a topic I’m happy to hear more about, particularly developments around integrated sensing and communications.

The silicon side of the RAN ecosystem is of interest. NVIDIA has attracted significant attention in this space, but I’m keen to understand what other options exist for running RAN workloads.

I’m also hearing quite a bit of chatter around physical AI, with companies like Ericsson, Nokia and Deutsche Telekom increasingly discussing its potential. It will be interesting to see how that develops at MWC, and whether operators can use it to unlock new revenue streams or deliver meaningful cost efficiencies.

How much of your time is typically split between editorial and sponsored content?
Both Michelle Donegan (from Light Reading) and I are purely focused on editorial at the show. Michele is trying to connect with service providers and also has an interest in satellite.

What advice would you give exhibitors trying to catch your attention — particularly newer companies or those you don’t regularly cover?
Pitch me on the topics I’ve mentioned. And don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, as I don’t always have time to respond to emails.

Most importantly, make sure you have something genuinely relevant or interesting to say. I’m open to speaking with newer companies, but there needs to be a connection to the areas I cover.

And finally, what’s your biggest pet peeve during MWC pitching season?
Often, I’ll only hear from people pitching around MWC itself. I’m much more inclined to engage with companies and PRs who build relationships throughout the year.

Timing also matters; sometimes people reach out very early, in December or early January, before I’m really focused on scheduling.

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