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Mobile World Congress Cancels Barcelona Event, Puts Focus On LA In October

In an unprecedented move, the GSMA, the organization that represents mobile network operators worldwide, has cancelled its Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2020 event, as a result of the ongoing coronavirus scare. Instead, the GSMA said it will focus its efforts on Mobile World Congress Los Angeles, which is currently scheduled to take place October 28th through the 30th -- as well as MWC Shanghai, which is set for June 30th to July 2nd. According to the GSMA, the unprecedented cancellation comes due to "global concern regarding the coronavirus outbreak, travel concern and other circumstances", which it said will "make it impossible for the GSMA to hold the event." Barcelona sees more than 100,000 visitors associated with the yearly event. GSMA has not said how it intends to manage its June event in Shanghai, one of the cities which has already seen cancellations of events due to the virus scare. The virus outbreak--which began in Wuhan, China in December--is now linked to over 1100 deaths and nearly 45,100 cases, and staggering hospitalization rates in China. Hopefully, by the time the MWC rolls around in Los Angeles--where last year nearly 22,000 attendees were expected--will not be affected by the move in Barcelona.