The Editor’s View: Keith Dyer (The Mobile Network) on MWC 2026

In an era where MWC can often feel like a "sea of sameness" for journalists, The Mobile Network Editor, Keith Dyer reveals all his inside tips for a successful event (including the build-up). Sitting down with Paul Campbell, Keith shares an unfiltered look at how he navigates the madness of the Fira, and what it actually takes to be one of the thirty briefings that make the cut.

Roughly how many briefings are you planning to take at MWC?
Around 25–30 in total, not including Tuesday. That’s spread across Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, so roughly eight to ten a day.

Who are you most keen to speak to – vendors, operators, or a mix?
It’s a mix. I try to use MWC to speak to companies I wouldn’t always meet during the year. It’s also a good opportunity to meet operators, though they’re often very busy. More broadly, I see it as a chance to meet the wider ecosystem, particularly vendors doing interesting things that might be less visible at other times.

Are there particular job titles you find most valuable to meet?
It really depends on the company. It doesn’t have to be the CEO – often someone running product management can be just as interesting.

What topics are you most interested in discussing this year?
AI is, of course, a big one, particularly in relation to automated operations and network automation, and how that operational space is changing. I’m also interested in the impact this is having on the vendor landscape – AI-RAN, cloud-native platforms, and how that’s playing out for operators. 

Innovation is another key focus, particularly as new technologies emerge and increased consolidation in areas like RAN has on the market.

How do you split your time between editorial and sponsored activity at MWC?
It’s roughly three-to-one. Tuesday is largely reserved for sponsored activity, focused on video interviews and panels. 

The Mobile Network is also running its own event in London in May this year, The Mobile Network Innovation Summit (MNIS). It focuses on where innovation in the network space is emerging, how it’s being fostered and incubated within operators, and how operators are partnering with innovative companies to develop that technology for the benefit of their businesses. During MWC, I’ll be having conversations to explore which companies could be a good fit for the discussions taking place at the event.

What advice would you give exhibitors trying to get your attention?
Relevance is everything. Simply having your CEO available isn’t a strong enough hook. With 800-plus companies there, you need to clearly explain why what you’re talking about matters – whether it’s something new, a different perspective, or a strong opinion. A clear two or three-bullet point pitch that shows how your company adds to or challenges the conversation could get me interested.

Any pitching pet peeves during MWC season?
Well more of a plea than a peeve: while I appreciate companies want to optimise their MWC presence, don’t limit your press engagement to MWC, the busiest part of the year. There are 11 other months available to keep talking!

I also think it’s unhelpful when clients push for unrealistic numbers of briefings, which puts pressure on PR teams and can put stress on the journalist relationships. That said, I’d always rather be pitched than not thought of at all!

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