display
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, the world's most important mobile communications trade fair, has to do without more and more important companies.
According to information from WELT, the US chip manufacturer Intel, the network specialist Cisco and the drone world market leader DJI from China have decided not to travel to Spain at the end of June.
This means that more and more companies are likely to ask themselves whether a physical presence on site is still worthwhile.
"In line with our policies regarding the ongoing pandemic, our presence at this year's MWC will be digital only and we will not have a booth," Intel says.
The health of the employees has top priority.
Cisco also cites security reasons.
"We have made the decision to refrain from attending the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in person due to ongoing concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic," said a spokeswoman.
display
Ericsson, Nokia and Sony announced their exit three weeks ago.
The drone manufacturer DJI also confirmed its cancellation to WELT: "We check very carefully in each individual case whether we will participate in events or trade fairs and this year we have decided against participating in the MWC," said a spokeswoman.
Google recently canceled its participation in Barcelona.
Because of the travel restrictions and internal rules, the company only wants to be there virtually.
Last year, the MWC was the first major international trade fair to be canceled due to the pandemic.
This year, the organizer, the GSM Association, has moved the fair from its original date in February to the end of June in order to hold it both as a face-to-face fair and as a virtual event.
Instead of the usual 100,000 visitors, the organizers are now planning 40,000 to 50,000 participants in Barcelona, who have to do a current corona test every 72 hours.
The security concept provides for quick test stations, better ventilation systems, a mask requirement and additional access to the exhibition grounds.