Elcke’s Saturday Data Dive #08: Soon, the whole world is connected
In this four-weekly newsletter, I will keep you posted about the newest developments in the field of data. No worries, I’ll keep it simple. Everyone can follow along. Spoiler alert: I’ve been at the Mobiel World Congress in Barcelona and there’s a lot to unpack. Let’s dive right in!
From sea to operating room: the whole world connected
Sailing ships on the North Sea, surgeons in the OR—anyone at MWC 2025 saw it instantly: the future is fully connected. The event in Barcelona united industry leaders in the world of connectivity and hundreds of thousands of visitors. I was there as a reporter for IO+.
Just a grasp of a couple of things that stood out to me; Up early on Monday, I took it all in. A self-driving SUV gleamed on one stage; on another, a dancer moved among holographic K-pop idols.
A highlight of my visit is touring Huawei's massive hall, unlike the modest stands of others. I’m struck by their innovations—a triple-folding smartphone and the Watch D2, the first medically certified smartwatch for blood pressure monitoring.
I interviewed dozens of entrepreneurs poised to reshape connectivity and data. Their passion was so contagious, I almost felt the urge to dive into telecom myself—almost!
Oh - and I had a live chitchat with a hologram! I called with someone from Holoconnects. No, he wasn’t in Barcelona. He was at home, in the Netherlands. Here’s a short impression:
EU announces massive AI investment of €200 billion
A recurring theme at nearly every company at the expo was AI. Hopefully, the technology will soon accelerate in Europe. I’m quite hopeful; At the AI summit in Paris last month, Ursula von der Leyen unveiled InvestAI, a €200 billion plan. A key part is a €20 billion fund for AI gigafactories.
Trade war intensifies—5 European tech alternatives to consider
During my trip to Spain, I kept an eye on the news—though it wasn’t exactly uplifting. International tensions are soaring. Zelensky’s visit to Trump, the ongoing trade war—it’s not exactly pleasant to take it all in.
As global friction rises, Europe faces a crossroads. Growing concerns over digital sovereignty and economic reliance on U.S. tech giants are sparking debate. Could this be the moment Europe pivots toward homegrown alternatives for greater autonomy? We summed up five alternatives to U.S. tech giants you should know.
That’s it for now. Visit our website for more data geeky stuff. I’ll keep you posted for sure.
Elcke Vels - Editor IO+
