MWC 2020 cancelled due to corona virus fears

MWC 2020 cancelled due to corona virus fears

MWC 2020 cancelled due to corona virus fears

The Mobile World Congress (MWC), the largest telephone exchange in Europe, will not take place after dozens of coronavirus companies have indicated that they will not travel to Barcelona. The decision follows despite the precautionary measures and a call for calm from the Spanish Ministry of Health.

The MWC attracts around 100,000 people annually. In particular, smartphone makers, telecom manufacturers and providers and other companies are usually to be found at the fair. In addition, the exhibition is also about applications of new technology, such as 5G internet, virtual reality and self-driving cars.

Sony and LG, among others, who use the stock market to show new smartphones to the present press and analysts, have canceled their participation. In addition, European telecom manufacturers Ericsson and Nokia and their American competitor Cisco have withdrawn. After Huawei, the three companies are the world's largest suppliers of telecom equipment.
The GSMA is an industry trade body that represents more than 1,200 companies across the mobile ecosystem, and MWC is the chance for thousands to gather for partnerships, deals, and product launches. MWC is usually held annually in Barcelona, and it has a big economic impact of 492 million euros, and also generates 14,100 part-time jobs.

"During the four days of the congress, the hotel is fully occupied with the highest rates of the year. There's no other week like it," he said, with his words echoed by fellow hoteliers.

"We were supposed to host the team assembling Sony's stand but they haven't turned up. Ericsson has cancelled 30 rooms, and Intel and LG have cancelled their meeting rooms," said the manager of another nearby hotel who did not want to give her name.

"It feels like we've been working for months for nothing. This year has been pretty sluggish so far and this is just going to finish us off."

Meanwhile, ride-sharing companies are also on edge.

"This period accounts for 20% of our yearly income," said Jose Maria Goni who runs Unauto, a fleet of vehicles for hire with drivers.

Trade shows have been hit by the virus on several continents, and while Asia's biggest airshow in Singapore went forward nonetheless, more than 70 exhibitors cancelled.

The cancellations began on Feb 4 when South Korea's LG Electronics, which occupies one of the largest spaces at the show, said it was pulling out to "remove the risk of exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel... as the virus continues to spread across borders".

With the exception of Apple, most major smartphone manufacturers typically present their new products and innovations at the congress.

Before the cancellation, China's top smartphone maker Huawei as well as its smaller rival ZTE, had pledged their executives and staff would undergo a self-imposed two-week quarantine period, while ZTE said its stand and equipment would be disinfected daily.

The organisers had also sought to reassure exhibitors, saying they would step up security measures, impose restrictions on visitors from China and have staff on hand to take visitors' temperatures.

But it wasn't enough, and the trickle of withdrawals quickly turned into a deluge with dozens of companies pulling out of the show.