Telefonica connects with the MWCapital
It’s official now: before MWCongress 2013 (Feb 25-28, 2013) kicks off the Mobile World Centre will be already up and running! Xavier Trias (@xaviertrias) Mayor of Barcelona and President of the MWC Foundation, and César Alierta, CEO and Chairman of Telefónica, closed the deal last Tuesday in the Barcelona City Hall.
Telefónica had already committed to the Barcelona project since its birth but has now agreed to invest 7,8 million € (10,1M$) during the 2012-2014 period. Several other companies have already joined us, or have opened an office in Barcelona attracted by the MWCapital concept, but this is the first private fundings contribution.
Very soon shared projects and initiatives will be launched, but the first one will be open real soon: the MWCentre. The agreement with Telefónica includes the lodging of the MWCentre within the flagship building of the operator in the very city centre, Plaça Catalunya:
This will help to transform the city centre into a technological landmark, very close to the new Apple flagship store (second largest in Europe), the electronics and media shop fnac, the El Corte Inglés department store. This building has been owned by Telefonica ever since it was built, back on 1927 as its headquarters in the region, although it was later moved to Avenida Roma, and very recently a gorgeous a new 110m building in the technological 22@ district.
The MWCentre will occupy 1.800 sqm on the three first stories of Pl. Catalunya building. However, this won’t be the MWCapital headquarters…we will announce its location very soon (so stay tuned). The MWCentre will be a showroom, conference hall and hands-on museum, where everyone will be able to experience in first hand new technologies through real mStories and high impact exhibitions.
We are currently under construction (or remodeling actually) but we will show you ASAP the first images of the inside of our brand new MWCenter. We will keep you posted and provide you information about the opening date!
