6G-REFERENCE took part in the Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC26), held from 2-5 March 2026 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. The project was represented by our coordinator, Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), which presented 6G-REFERENCE and showed demos of our antenna technologies at its exhibition booth throughout the four-day conference, recognised as the world’s largest event for the connectivity ecosystem.
Demonstration of 6G-REFERENCE’s Antenna Technologies
At the CTTC stand, visitors had the opportunity to explore the key technological elements developed within 6G-REFERENCE, including the integrated circuit and antenna component solutions to enhance urban connectivity beyond what is possible with 5G.
Our coordinator, Ignacio Llamas, Senior Researcher at CTTC, demonstrated our antenna arrays and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) and explained how these components contribute to enabling high-frequency, and high-efficiency wireless systems for future 6G deployments. The demonstration took place during a visit to the booth by representatives from the Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) and the European Commission (EC).
The session also provided an opportunity to discuss the project’s technical approach among the attendees, including Chiara Mazzone, Programme Officer at SNS JU; Pavlos Fournogerakis, Deputy Head of Programmes at SNS JU; and Javier Albares, Head of 5G & 6G Programmes at SNS JU.
In words of Ignacio Llamas:
“Our presence at this year’s MWC Barcelona enabled us to present the 6G-REFERENCE antenna technologies to an international audience and to engage directly with representatives from the SNS JU, the European Commission and the wider 6G and connectivity ecosystem. The event was an excellent opportunity to increase the visibility of the project’s results and to strengthen networking with potential collaborators to shape the 6G research landscape.” – Ignacio Llamas, Senior Researcher at CTTC and 6G-REFERENCE Coordinator.
Networking at MWC 2026: 6G-REFERENCE at the CTTC Booth
Beyond the official demonstration on the third day of the event, the CTTC booth served as a meeting point for researchers, industry representatives and stakeholders interested in emerging 6G technologies.
Carles Anton Haro, Director of European Programmes & Industry Contracts at CTTC, explains in the video below the four live demos showcased at the booth, covering compact 6G antennas, near-field communications with three-polarised antennas, digital twins for realistic 6G network evaluation, and AI-driven Network-as-a-Service for immersive XR.
The SNS JU Activities at MWC 2026
The Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) also participated at the Mobile World Congress 2026, highlighting Europe’s strategic vision for next-generation connectivity. One of the highlight of its participation was the session ‘6G, Cloud, Edge, AI: The New Power Stack for Industrial Leadership – A European Vision for Future Connectivity’, held on 2 March 2026 at the Marconi Stage in Hall 6. The session brought together leading industry executives and policymakers to discuss how the convergence of 6G technologies, artificial intelligence, cloud and edge computing will transform digital infrastructures and enable new industrial applications in Europe.
During the congress, the SNS JU also announced €116 million in EU funding for 20 new research and innovation projects, further strengthening Europe’s leadership in 6G development. These initiatives address a wide range of domains, including healthcare, autonomous mobility and logistics, Industry 4.0, immersive media, space communications, and next-generation radio systems. The investment forms part of a broader effort to accelerate advanced 5G and early 6G experimentation, with future flagship programmes expected to mobilise more than €270 million in additional funding in the coming years.
The SNS JU projects present at MWC 2026 were: 6G-SANDBOX, Imagine-B5G, CENTRIC, 6G-VERSUS, SNS INSTINCT 6G, ORIGAMI, 6G-EWOC, 6G-PATH, UNITY-6G, ADROIT6G, 6G-BRICKS, 6G-DALI, FLECON-6G, 5G-STARDUST, 6G-TWIN, SUNRISE-6G, MultiX-6G, ETHER, FirstTo6G, and 6G-REFERENCE.