5G to be in spotlight at MWC 2018
Barcelona: The 2018 edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), to be held from February 26 to March 1, will focus on the continued progress of 5G technology.
Around 170 international delegations will also attend an event which will present new products and discuss the future of the mobile communications industry, creating 13,000 temporary jobs with an estimated economic impact of around 471 million euros ($579 million), Xinhua reported.
As always, the MWC will see many companies presenting new devices, with Samsung expected to debut its Galaxy S9 and S9+ models, while launches are also anticipated from Asus, Sony, HMD (Nokia), Lenovo/Moto and TCL Communications.
Some experts are predicting that the progress being made in 5G could prove to be a setback for devices and many potential buyers could be tempted to postpone purchase of a new smartphone until 2019 when it is expected 5G devices will hit the high-street.
Topics such as artificial intelligence and the ethical issues surrounding its application will be debated in the host of keynote speeches, presentations and panel discussions to be held over four days in Barcelona.
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Bengaluru: Karnataka mulls ban social media for children below 16, says Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government is considering a ban on the use of social media for children below the age of 16, taking inspiration from steps taken by countries such as Australia and Finland, The New Indian Express reported.
Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and IT-BT, Priyank Kharge, informed the Assembly on Friday that the issue is under discussion. Responding to senior BJP leader and MLA S Suresh Kumar, who expressed concern over the abuse of social media, Kharge admitted that it is a serious issue.
Finland has taken action, the UK is considering similar steps, and Australia imposed a ban two months ago. “We too in the state have launched a digital detoxification programme for responsible use of AI and social media. The IT-BT department, in collaboration with Meta, has been running it by involving over three lakh children and one lakh teachers,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Kharge said that in March 2025, the government launched the ‘Beyond Screens’ programme to help people dealing with digital addiction. The initiative was announced during the GAFX 2025 summit, along with the opening of a ‘Beyond Screens’ digital detox centre and the launch of an official website.
The detox centre serves as a dedicated hub for resources, counselling and intervention programmes for healthier digital habits.
During the Assembly session, Suresh Kumar also referred to the Economic Survey 2025-26, which was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The survey recommended that governments consider age-based restrictions on social media use for children.
