The world’s biggest mobile tech show, Mobile World Congress 2020, will not be happening at the end of this month due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. According to GSMA, the organiser of the annual event in Barcelona, the cancellation of the MWC 2020 which is scheduled to take place between 24th to 27th February 2020 was due to the safe and healthy environment in Barcelona and the host country.
Below is their official statement:
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.
Further updates from the GSMA, are on our website and can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com.
Earlier this week, several brands have pulled out from MWC 2020 which include Sony, Ericsson, Amazon, LG, Nvidia and ZTE. A few days later, more brands including HMD Global, Vivo, Intel and Facebook have withdrawn their participation.
There are other brands such as Realme, Oppo and Xiaomi that are having their own press conferences at Barcelona in the same period but it isn’t clear if they are going to proceed with their event. It was reported earlier that GSMA had attempted to lobby the Spanish government to declare a health emergency in Spain which will allow them to claim back insurance if the show is cancelled.
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