Mobile World Congress 2020 cancelled : Huge economic impact

The world’s biggest phone show, Mobile World Congress, which was planned to take place in Barcelona between February 24th and also the 27th is cancelled. After coronavirus threatning  to push MWC into chaos , the GSM Association (GSMA), which arranges the show, has now terminated it. It comes after more than a week of exhibitors and also companies taking out of MWC.

In a declaration, GSMA CEO John Hoffman claimed that the coronavirus outbreak made it “Impossible” to hold this big event.

” 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”

Coronavirus infections have reached 42,000 with the number of death greater than 1,000. A lot of infections and deaths have actually been reported in Wuhan and also the bordering Hubei Province in China, but still 25 nations have currently reported few cases in their countries. The GSMA had actually tried to adopt some drastic measures to control situation with disinfection actions on site, recommending participants fo not shake hands as well as banning vistors coming from Whuhan and province of Hubei in china .

MWC 2020 was set to include a big Chinese phone makers. LG pulled out of MWC earlier this month, and ZTE canceled an organized press . Ericsson, one of the biggest exhibitors at MWC, took out from the event, prior to Nvidia, Intel, Vivo, Sony, Amazon, as well as NTT Docomo.  Then comes Cisco, Nokia, BT, as well as HMD which also cancelled this week.

GSMA has no other choice but to cancel this big event which is held each year in Barcelona, and a has a huge economic impact of 492 million euros, and generating 14,100 part-time job.