Last year, Samsung was one of the companies that kept its commitment to the 2020 MWC show that ended up being canceled. A year later, with a GSMA determined to move forward and shielded from lawsuits, Samsung has announced that it will not attend MWC 2021 physically.
The brief statement reflects the same reasons given by other companies that have already confirmed their absence, such as Ericsson, Nokia, and Sony: the safety of their employees, partners, and customers in the context of the global pandemic of COVID-19.
Virtual Samsung will be at MWC 2021
The GSMA has long been preparing the protocols for its most secure edition, including digital accreditations and negative tests every 72 hours, but as the dates for MWC 2021 approaches, another major company has decided to get off the train: Samsung will not have a physical presence at MWC 2021, it said in a statement:
‘Our priority is the health and safety of our employees, partners, and customers; and as such, we have decided to withdraw from this year’s Mobile World Congress in-person event.
With no physical presence at the show, this does not mean that Samsung will not take advantage of the dates to introduce new products. Instead, it will focus on its online events, with UNPACKED events that have increased in frequency in recent months.
We look forward to participating virtually and continuing to collaborate with the GSMA and other industry partners to further develop new mobile experiences.
The 2021 edition of Mobile World Congress will take place from June 28 to July 1, with special exemptions to facilitate mobility, special security measures, and a capacity of around 40,000 people. With less than 50 days to go, it would not be unusual for other companies to decide on whether or not to attend in the coming days.
