As we begin our preparations for Mobile World Congress 2016 (hard to believe), I thought it would be fun to reflect on this year's show. Cisco worked with the GSMA and the Fira again this year to deliver a carrier-grade Wi-Fi network to 93,000 attendees. After winning last year's WBA Wi-Fi Industry Award for Most Innovative Hotspot Venue, we challenged the teams to do more this year. We staffed the Network Operating Center with Wi-Fi experts to ensure the network was always delivering peak performance, and we continued to push the envelope on network capability, demonstrating the pure power of a well-deigned carrier-grade Wi-Fi network in a dense trade show environment. I love this video that gives a behind-the-scenes peak into the NOC at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Gb2HrWlcM

We also used Cisco Mobility IQ to gain business insights aboutthe attendees visiting Mobile World Congress in March 2015 -insights that the GSMA and the Fira de Barcelona can use next year to continue to improve the user experience for all. We showed the data live in our booth, and we posted some of the data each day in the beautiful mural by visual artist Zosen. For example, we could see that the MWC audience is very social, and in fact we know which social media channels they prefer:

Record setting attendance meant record-setting Wi-Fi numbers, with 90,618 unique devices connected to the network. Take a look at this Infographic for a complete look at the insights gained during MWC 2015. As I write this we are working with the GSMA and the Fira to finalize the plan for the 2016 Wi-Fi network. Stay tuned -you're going to like what's in store.

Follow us and tweet us @CiscoSPMobility in the coming months to see what we're planning.