Boycotted From Exhibition, Mobile World Congress Sanctions Russia For Invasion Of Ukraine

The GSMA strictly prohibited several Russian companies from attending the exhibition. (photo: Doc. MWC Barcelona)

JAKARTA - The organizer of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), GSMA strictly prohibited several Russian companies from attending the prestigious exhibition as a sanction for their invasion of Ukraine.

MWC 2022 will be held on February 28 in Barcelona. Unfortunately, the GSMA was reluctant to say which companies would be barred from attending. However, he stated there would be no Russian Pavilion to showcase the country's mobile products.

"As we look at the situation today, we don't see a need or requirement to do that. Of course this is an evolving situation and we will continue to monitor it," said GSMA Chief Executive John Hoffman, as reported by Reuters, Saturday, February 26.

So far, Hoffman insists he currently has no plans to cancel or postpone MWC following the outbreak of war in Eastern Europe.

"We are guided by international sanctions and there are several companies identified on the sanctions list and they will be barred from participating," Hoffman said, adding the GSMA would strictly follow US sanctions as well as others.

Usually the MWC state pavilion features a number of small companies. But larger exhibitors including companies with Russian links, such as telco VimpelCom can pay the GSMA to exclusively occupy the more prime areas of the exhibition floor.

It seems that the GSMA is not prepared to shut down these wealthier Russian companies unless sanctions force it.

Quoted from TechCrunch, the telecom trade show has struggled in recent years. The conference was canceled entirely in February 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe.

While the 2021 edition was postponed until the summer, instead of taking up the usual early spring slot, due to the pandemic there remains live attendance at the event drastically reduced compared to pre-pandemic years.

As with MWC 2021, this year's conference is offered as a hybrid show, with both face-to-face and streaming sessions available. The GSMA expects more than 1,800 exhibitors and exhibitors from 183 countries at this year's event.