The annual global mobile world congress scheduled to hold from February 24 to 27, in Barcelona, Spain could be cancelled following a large pull out of several tech companies running away from being victims of the ferociously spreading corona virus that has killed over 1000 victims and scourging over 45,000 persons worldwide.
Intel, Vivo, and NTT Docomo, Sony, Amazon, LG, ZTE, Nvidia, and Ericsson have already cancelled various events that were set to take place at MWC in Barcelona, which is the biggest mobile technology trade show on the annual calendar.
“The safety and wellbeing of all our employees and partners is our top priority, and we have withdrawn from this year’s Mobile World Congress out of an abundance of caution,” said an Intel spokesperson in a statement published by Venturebeat. NTT similarly stressed the need to protect customers, partners, and staff, according to Reuters.
Vivo, citing concerns with the health and safety of its employees and the public, is withdrawing the debut of its new Apex 2020 concept phone from MWC. Revised plans will be issued soon, according to the company.
“Sony has been closely monitoring the evolving situation following the novel coronavirus outbreak, which was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization on January 30th, 2020,” Sony says in a statement posted to its website Monday. “As we place the utmost importance on the safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners, media and employees, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from exhibiting and participating at MWC 2020 in Barcelona, Spain.”
Amazon, meanwhile, says that “due to the outbreak and continued concerns about novel coronavirus, Amazon will withdraw from exhibiting and participating in Mobile World Congress 2020, scheduled for Feb. 24-27 in Barcelona, Spain.”
Ericsson citing “the health and safety of our employees,” mobile giant Ericsson is pulling out of MWC 2020 as well, the company announced on Friday. The GSMA, the group behind the mobile telecom show, said Ericsson’s move “will potentially have further impact.” However, it confirmed the show would still go on. But can it weather further high-profile cancelations?
Yesterday the GSM Association, which organizes MWC, put out an updated statement detailing further countermeasures it is taking against the spread of the coronavirus. No travelers from China’s Hubei province, where the outbreak began, will be permitted access to the event, while anyone who’s visited other regions of China will need to prove that they have been out of the country for 14 days beforehand. With MWC set to start in two weeks today, that is likely to complicate the plans of several Chinese companies that were planning to attend.
A number of companies have confirmed that, because of the ongoing spread of the coronavirus crisis, they will not be attending Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Coronavirus has already killed more than 400 people and infected more than 20,000, and its spread has yet to be contained. A number of tech companies have closed their offices in the region — a trend that’s likely to continue over the coming weeks.
Citing fears for the health and safety of customers, employees, and shareholders alike, LG, ZTE, and Ericsson have confirmed they will not be attending the annual tech show in some form or another. Now, Sony and TCL have become the latest companies to drop out.
