The GSMA has axed MWC Shanghai as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Due to take place from 30th June to 2nd July, MWC Shanghai had over 500 exhibitors lined up and was expected to attract over 75,000 delegates.
The cancellation follows the GSMA’s February decision to pull its flagship MWC Barcelona event due to concerns over Covid-19. The event had been due to run from 24th-27th February. Exhibitors have been compensated for the costs and the GSMA has signed a deal to continue hosting the event in Barcelona until at least 2024.
The GSMA stated that it plans to replace the congress with a series of regional conferences across the second half of 2020. It will determine appropriate dates and venues for these events by cooperating Chinese health officials and the country’s government, although the industry body noted that it would need to “confirm the [events’] feasibility…in the coming months”.
A statement from the GSMA confirmed plans for next year’s event, saying: “We look forward to continuing to engage in the region throughout the year and in the build-up to MWC Shanghai 2021.”
MWC Los Angeles, which is the third event in the MWC series scheduled for this year, is due to take place in October and this currently remains the case.
