Telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson has withdrawn from the mobile industry’s biggest annual event to protect its staff and visitors from the coronavirus outbreak.
The Swedish company said on Friday it had pulled out of this year’s edition of MWC Barcelona, which will run from February 24 to February 27.
As one of the largest exhibitors, with thousands of visitors in its hall each day, Ericsson said it could not guarantee the health and safety of its employees and customers.
“It is very unfortunate, but we strongly believe the most responsible business decision is to withdraw our participation from this year’s event,” Ericsson chief executive Borje Ekholm said. “This is not a decision we have taken lightly.”
The decision could have a knock-on effect on other participants. Smartphone makers LG Electronics, also a major exhibitor, and ZTE Corp said earlier this week they were scaling back their presence.
Ericsson’s absence leaves a gap bigger than a standard American football field in the exhibition halls, according to the floor plan issued by the event organisers.
Other companies that have typically sent delegates are assessing the situation. BT Group is keeping its attendance under review, a spokesman said. Nokia, Ericsson’s Nordic rival, still plans to attend though the situation is fluid, a spokeswoman said.
Ericsson’s move “might trigger other big vendors, who would have many staff members on site, to withdraw”, said Stenvall Kimmo, an analyst at OP Corporate Bank in Helsinki.
Chinese authorities have reported 31,453 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus and 636 people who have died in the country since the outbreak began.
Representatives from Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest telecoms equipment supplier, will attend as planned, a spokesman said. The company is working with the GSM Association, the mobile industry lobby group and organiser of the conference, on preventive measures.
Ericsson said the demos and content it has created for MWC Barcelona will be showcased close to customers at local events.
