Just a few months before the MWC 2021 in Barcelona, the first major company to publicly cancel its attendance has been Ericsson, the telecommunications company will not attend the congress.
It’s been more than a year since the cancellation of MWC 2019. The GSMA and the Catalan organizers are determined that the Mobile World Congress 2021 in Barcelona can be held, they also confirm that it will be the safest event in history.
Ericsson cites security and liability reasons for not attending MWC 2021
On March 8, the GSMA confirmed that all preparations are on track for the highly anticipated mobile event at the end of June. The organizers will ask for tests before accessing the venue, will offer tests at the event itself, and will also maintain all the usual security measures against COVID-19: social distance, extreme cleanliness, and no contact in the proceedings. For the company, this is not enough.
The Swedish company confirmed that it will not attend the upcoming MWC 2021. Ericsson claims responsibility for the health and safety of its employees, customers, and all those interested in attending the facilities that the company would have temporarily built at the congress. The company appreciates all the security measures put in place by the GSMA, but given the thousands of people who visit its booth every day, Ericsson says it cannot guarantee everyone’s safety.
Although Ericsson will not physically attend the event, the company will show its offers digitally. With this refusal, Ericsson could open the door to cancellations, just as LG did last year.
