Ericsson said Friday the company is withdrawing from the upcoming GSMA Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2020 due to the outbreak of the novel corona virus. Officials said the health and safety of employees and customers cannot be ensured and responsibility for their customers and other stakeholders is the company’s top priority.
Following the outbreak and continued spreading of the virus, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) company officials said they’ve closely monitored the development, and adhered to recommendations from relevant national authorities and international bodies, such as the World Health Organization.
Ericsson President/CEO Borje Ekholm said he appreciates that GSMA has done everything they can to control the risk. However, as one of the largest exhibitors, Ericsson has thousands of visitors in its hall each day and, “even if the risk is low, the company cannot guarantee the health and safety of its employees and visitors,” Ekholm said. “This is not a decision we have taken lightly. We were looking forward to showcasing our latest innovations at MWC in Barcelona. It is very unfortunate, but we strongly believe the most responsible business decision is to withdraw our participation from this year’s event.”
The demos and content created for MWC Barcelona will be showcased close to customers at local events, called “Ericsson Unboxed.” The MWC Barcelona is slated for February 24 – 27.
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