MWC 2020 is just a few weeks away, but we're seeing a pretty consistent stream of companies and brands dropping out of the event over coronavirus fears. Whether or not those fears are justified, we're seeing a huge exodus of partners cancel their plans to attend the event, which will leave significantly fewer products at the show this year.
With this much worry, there are some rumblings that the conference could be canceled.
Will MWC 2020 be canceled?
The GSM Association is the group behind organizing MWC every year, and they're reportedly in talks with the Spanish government to declare a health emergency that would shut the doors on the event in Barcelona. The big push behind all of this is that if the GSMA cancels the event right now, they'll lose their insurance payout for the conference, which means they're out a ton of money; on the other hand, if the Spanish government cancels the event, they'll be entitled to insurance compensation.
At this point in the game, the GSMA does really want to cancel the event. Whether that's because they know it's not going to be a great show with so few partners left or they are genuinely concerned about the health of attendees, they're looking for an out.
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But the Spanish government seems to think that they're prepared for the event, and they have enough safeguards in place to prevent coronavirus from spreading throughout MWC 2020.
The GSMA plans to have this sorted out by Friday, so in a couple days we'll know whether or not MWC 2020 will be happening at all this year.
source: Wired
****UPDATE***** it is canceled.
It should be… If no one is going.. Why would you still spend the money on the event…