It is probably not a happy heart that the Swedish telecom supplier Ericsson has decided to cancel its participation in the MWC 2020 fair in Barcelona. Uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus and the ongoing epidemic in China prompted the company to preserve the health of its teams on site.
As’major player in 5G Having to win contracts so as not to be overwhelmed by Chinese competition and that of Nokia, the decision is undoubtedly fraught with consequences, since the company has each year a large stand showing the different facets of its products and at the time where 5G is really taking shape with the opening of new networks planned around the world this year.
Ericsson reports seeing thousands of visitors pass through its stand every day during the event, which does not ensure that the health of its employees is not jeopardized, even taking into account the theoretical weakness of the risk of infection and preventive measures announced by the GSMA, organizer of the show.
The equipment manufacturer will set up dedicated Ericsson Unboxed events later in the year to show its products and disseminate the information initially planned as part of the MWC.
Several large companies have already announced their withdrawal or a reduced presence at the event while others remain present until further notice but at the cost of quarantine measures upstream of the show.
With the multiple defections already planned, there is still no question of a cancellation of the largest annual mobile phone show, but it will undoubtedly be a fairly special edition and emptied of part of its substance. .
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