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Crisis talks on mobile fair over virus fears
MADRID, Feb 12, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Organisers of the World Mobile Congress
were holding urgent talks Wednesday over the fate of the world’s top mobile
fair after a string of industry heavyweights withdrew over coronavirus fears,
a source close to the meeting said.
“We’re leaning towards a cancellation. It should be announced later in the
day,” the source told AFP.
The GSMA, the mobile trade association which organises the annual show,
had originally been due to convene a meeting of its members on Friday to
discuss whether or not to cancel the show, which this year runs from February
24-27.
But the date was brought forward as an increasing number of industry
heavyweights pulled out, with Nokia and Deutsche Telekom announcing their
withdrawal just hours before the meeting.
The annual Barcelona-based congress normally draws more than 100,000
people, but this year, participation has been hit by the outbreak of a deadly
new coronavirus.
So far, the COVID-19 virus has claimed more than 1,100 lives with another
44,600 infected, the vast majority in China, with the World Health
Organization warning it poses a “very grave threat”.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1927 hrs