The organisers of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona cancelled on Wednesday the world’s biggest mobile tech show, scheduled to kick off on 24 February, after big firms pulled out over coronavirus concerns.
Colossal companies including LG, Amazon, Intel, Sony, Ericsson, Facebook had already pulled out of the event citing concerns about traveling amid the fast-spreading coronavirus – now formally known as Covid-19.
“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,” John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA said in a statement.
The announcement came after Vodafone and BT announced their withdrawal on Wednesday.
The telecoms association that hosts the annual conference, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), had initially resisted calls to cancel the event, citing that there were still 2,800 exhibitors attending the event and that it would put in place strict health precautions.
