The world's largest mobile technology conference, Mobile World Congress, has been cancelled due to fears that it could spread the Coronavirus outbreak.
Mobile World Congress is the largest global mobile technology event of the year, with over 100,000 delegates from tech firms, press, and visitors pouring into Barcelona each year to showcase the year's newest advances in mobile technology. The event was due to take place in just two weeks from February 24th to 26th but has now been cancelled over fears that it could lead to spreading of the current Coronavirus outbreak.
The event attracts major tech players from around the world, with 6,000 attendees usually coming from China where the infection is most highly concentrated. Preparations were already underway to hold the event despite the risk, but several major event sponsors and attending companies decided to pull out.
Among the firms that pulled out of the event were major tech industry players such as Amazon, Facebook, Sony, and Ericsson. Electronics giants Intel, Nvidia, and LG were all poised to show off their latest mobile tech at the event and had to pull out over coronavirus fears. Major French and German
Organiser GSMA's CEO John Hoffman released a statement on the cancellation: "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."
Mobile World Congress has been an important part of the year for Northern Ireland educational scheme mTech.Academy, which last year flew students to the event to get hands-on with the latest cutting-edge mobile tech.
Source: The Verge
