Major tech giants like Facebook, Amazon, LG who were a part of Mobile World Congress 2020 had decided to pull out of this show with threats of the coronavirus spread. MWC host GMA said that it would be impossible to conduct this event in such a case.
The deadly coronavirus outbreak in China has shooked the world with over 1000 deaths reported over the last month. Apart from China, other parts of the world have also reported cases of coronavirus in recent times.
Amidst these threats, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2020, scheduled ahead this month, has been canceled. The MWC is the world’s largest trade show for the smartphone industry. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA), which hosts this summit every year in Barcelona, Spain, made this announcement on Wednesday, February 12.
Since major tech companies like Facebook and LG announced pulling off from the event, GSMA said that it was “impossible” to conduct the show with the ongoing health concerns. As per the previous schedule, MWC 2020 was to happen next week between February 24-27.
Speaking on this matter, GSMA CEO John Hoffman said:
“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.”
Tech Industry Facing the Heat of Coronavirus Outbreak
Being the global manufacturing hub, China is one of the hot destinations for global tech companies to manufacture their products. The outbreak of coronavirus has forced government authorities to shut down local manufacturing units and businesses.
Many tech companies that have a manufacturing base in China are facing the heat of this situation. Smartphone giant Apple Inc had to consider stopping work on their manufacturing units. Reportedly, this could also delay the sales of nearly 1 million iPhone handsets. Similarly, Apple is also facing the delay in the delivery of its latest AirPod units which are in great demand in the global market. The delay has got orders piling up for the tech giant.
The automobile giant Tesla just set up its massive gigafactory in Shanghai last year is also in a similar situation. Tesla has to temporarily shut down its stores and manufacturing units in mainland China. However, the company announced later that it is in talks with Shanghai’s local government and would soon resume work. Even the Shanghai municipal government has extended its cooperation to the American car manufacturer.
“In view of the practical difficulties key manufacturing firms including Tesla have faced in resuming production, we will coordinate to make all efforts to help companies resume production as soon as possible,” explained Shanghai municipal government spokesman Xu Wei.
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