MWC – Mobile with Coronavirus, Mobile without companies – is dead, a victim of Coronavirus. Bloomberg reports that GSMA CEO John Hoffman said the coronavirus outbreak has made it “impossible” to hold the event. MWC was scheduled to take place in Barcelona between February 24th and the 27th.
“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,” he said in a statement.
The list of companies that had already pulled out had grown significantly in Wednesday and with big hitters such as Nokia and BT pulling the plug its collapse was inevitable.
It now looks like the event now won’t happen at all until 2021, but some industry watchers think that this might be the beginning of the break up of this mega-show into smaller parts as all those that have been tied into it for so many years see that business carries on with out it.
The official GSMA statement reads:
“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“.
