Getting a doorstep mobile screen repair can make you anxious, but at least you’re not as nervous as GSMA CEO John Hoffman. Due to the global impact of Coronavirus, GSM Association-organized Mobile World Congress (MWC) got cancelled.
This is the world’s largest mobile trade show that attracts more than 100,000 people from over 200 countries every year. 2020’s version was to be held in Barcelona during February 24-27.
Several tabloids were reported of the cancellation speedily. The statement released by GSMA talked about the global concern over coronavirus outbreak, travel restrictions and other events.
A part of the statement read: “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.”
All of these superimposed on another to make the event difficult. GSMA CEO John Hoffman personally informed Bloomberg, Financial Times, and local newspapers El Diario, El País, and La Vanguardia about the cancellation of MWC.
GSMA may have been somewhat responsible for the damage themselves. On February 9, 2020, GSMA tweeted the following restrictions against people coming from China to the event.
- Access to the events MWC Barcelona, Four Years from Now (4YFN), xside, and YoMo are denied to visitors coming from Hubai province
- Travellers will have to show proof that they have been outside China at least 14 days before the event
- Body temperature of visitors will be screened
- Attendees will have to self-certify that they have not been in contact with anyone infected.
I wrote earlier about Amazon pulling from the congress on February 12. The list since then has become long, adding Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Facebook, HMD, Intel, LG, Nokia, NTT Docomo, Sony and Sprint to the roster.
