Mobile World Congress postponed until June 2021

The Mobile World Congress (MWC), the annual mobile industry trade show held in Barcelona and L'Hospitalet, has been postponed until June 2021 as announced by GSMA CEO John Hoffman on Wednesday.

The trade show is now set to take place next year from June 28 to July 1.

This year's edition was canceled in February over concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus among attendees and was rescheduled for March 2021 before GSMA made public that it was delaying the date once again.

Speaking to press gathered at the Fira de Barcelona, Hoffman explained that part of the rationale behind the change of dates was the wait for a Covid-19 vaccine.

"While vaccine development continues, we will adjust our events schedule and move our flagship event, your flagship event, MWC21, to June 28 – July 1, 2021, here in Barcelona."

According to Hoffman, the 2022 event dates are not set to change, meaning the Catalan capital is on course to host two MWCs within the space of eight months.

Hopes for high attendance

The largest fair of its kind, MWC attracts around 100,000 visitors every year, and GSMA hopes around 85% of the main exhibitors will be able to attend the next edition.

He said the new schedule is "viewed positively by our ecosystem and will allow our exhibitors and attendees to support MWC21 in the strongest possible way and help with local economy recovery."

"Personally, I believe between 83 and 85 of our top 100 exhibitors will come together, sign contracts and participate in MWC21," he added.