Mobile World Congress (MWC), the worlds biggest phone show, has been officially cancelled by the GSM Association (GSMA). Exhibitors such as LG, Intel and Facebook had slowly started to pull out of the annual event due to concerns around the spread of coronavirus.
MWC was due to be held in Barcelona between the 24th and 27th February. In a statement by GSMA CEO John Hoffman, he said that the ongoing coronavirus outbreak had made holding the exhibition “impossible”.
“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.”
John Hoffman – GSMA CEO
LG, Amazon, Nvidia, Ericsson, Cisco, Nokia Vivo and many more had pulled out of attending the show before its official cancellation. Its a huge hit for the Spanish economy as MWC generates nearly half a billion Euros in income, as well as creating over 10,000 part-time jobs.
Coronavirus has so far infected over 42,000 with the death toll rising to over 1000.