GSMA Permanently Cancels Mobile World Congress Over Coronavirus Fears
The GSMA officially cancels the 2020 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona due to widespread concerns about the coronavirus outbreak and resulting travel restrictions. The organization states that it is impossible to safely hold the massive tech event as planned.
The GSMA officially cancels Mobile World Congress 2020 in Barcelona due to escalating global concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. The organization states that travel fears and other unavoidable circumstances make it impossible to host the event safely. This decision ends the immediate plans for the massive trade show, which typically draws over 100,000 attendees from 200 countries.
Prior to this official cancellation, dozens of major tech companies withdraw from the event. LG initiates the exodus by citing direct safety concerns related to the virus, and Nvidia and Ericsson quickly follow suit. These high-profile departures severely impact the viability of the show before the GSMA ultimately makes the call to shut it down entirely.
Before cancelling the event, the GSMA attempts to implement strict health and safety measures to keep the show on track. Proposed precautions include banning all travelers from China's Hubei province, requiring proof of a 14-day absence from China for other attendees, and instituting mandatory temperature screenings at the venue. Despite these aggressive efforts, the association ultimately determines that the global health crisis is too severe to proceed.