The GSMA announced the postponement of MWC Shanghai 2022, originally scheduled for June 29-July 1, due to the “evolving pandemic” in the region.
“This decision is disappointing to all of us, but we continue to work with health and government authorities on the delivery of the next safe and successful MWC Shanghai,” the organization said on its website.
Businesses shut down and most of the population in Shanghai has been confined to their homes since March 28 after a spike in Covid-19 infections. Shanghai, with a population of 26 million, is China’s largest city. It has hosted the GMSA’s event under the MWC moniker since at least 2015.
Last year, even with extensive travel restrictions, the Shanghai event attracted about 25,000 attendees from 114 countries and territories.
That's not happening this year, a decision GSMA said it regrets.
“Convening the industry benefits the entire ecosystem. This coming together spurs innovation and dialogue that truly unlocks the power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive,” said GSMA CEO John Hoffman in a statement on Wednesday.
“As we learn to live in this new world, we will crack the code on how to bring people together so we can get on with the work we love. We always knew that bringing the MWC series of events back would require responsible leadership and continued judgement in respect of local and global circumstances,” he added.
The GSMA's statement didn’t specify how those registered to attend or exhibit would get refunds.
Earlier this month, GSMA canceled its Mobile360 Eurasia event that was supposed to be held in Moscow, saying it was doing so “with sadness that, in consideration of the tragic humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,” it could not proceed.
In February, GSMA kicked the Russian pavilion out of MWC Barcelona after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. That event went on to attract more than 61,000 attendees, still a far cry from the 100,000 who attended the 2019 MWC Barcelona.
The next big show for the U.S. will be the North American edition of MWC in Las Vegas, scheduled for September 28-30, 2022. Held in partnership with CTIA, the event previously was in Los Angeles but moves to Las Vegas this year.