GSMA, the producer of Mobile World Congress, announced that the event is cancelled due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. MWC is one of the biggest tech events where leaders and conglomerates from all over the world converge in Barcelona to showcase upcoming tech gadgets, including concepts that potentially would never hit the market.
This move didn’t come as a surprise as many of the top tech giants including LG, ZTE, Ericsson, Sony, TCL and others pulled out from the event citing the threat from the virus. To counter Coronavirus, MWC put in place a series of measures at the venue such as temperature screening and doubling of the medical staff at the event.
Earlier this week, several participants and exhibitors from MWC 2020 had started dropping off citing the virus threat, which is wreaking havoc in China with more than 700 deaths and thousands under monitoring
Meanwhile, Coronavirus continues to spread across China and other parts of the world. World Health Organisation has released a public advisory to mitigate the risk of the virus.
Read the complete statement below
Since the first edition of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in 2006, the GSMA has convened the industry, governments, ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders across the broader ecosystem.
With due regard to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country today, the GSMA has cancelled MWC Barcelona 2020 because the global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances, make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event.
The Host City Parties respect and understand this decision.
The GSMA and the Host City Parties will continue to be working in unison and supporting each other for MWC Barcelona 2021 and future editions.
Our sympathies at this time are with those affected in China, and all around the world.
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