MWC Shanghai kicks off major telecoms industry showcase amid US-China tech war, pandemic

Many of the leading Chinese and global telecoms companies are expected to take part in this year’s MWC Shanghai

The telecoms industry trade show will be available on the internet to visitors and exhibitors around the world via a virtual portal, My MWCS Online

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Visitors pass in front of a 5G advertisement during the MWC Shanghai trade show, held at Shanghai New International Expo Centre on June 27, 2019. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 7:00am, 23 Feb 2021Updated: 4:40pm, 25 Feb 2021

MWC Shanghai, the regional edition of the world’s biggest mobile industry trade show, kicks off on Tuesday amid the ongoing US-China tech war, providing a major showcase for the latest innovation from the likes of telecommunications equipment giants Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp.

The annual event organised by the GSM Association, which represents the interests of more than 750 wireless network operators and almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, is touted as the telecoms industry’s first large-scale hybrid event of its kind. The conference and exhibition, hosted at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre and Kerry Hotel Pudong, will also be available on the internet to visitors and exhibitors around the world via a dedicated virtual portal, My MWCS Online.

The staging of MWC Shanghai, which will run until Thursday, surmounted many difficulties, as the pandemic situation in many parts of the world remained severe, according to Sihan Bo Chen, head of Greater China at the GSMA. “This is a meeting that brightens the hopes and sends a very positive signal for the global [telecoms] industry,” she said on Monday.

Last year’s MWC Shanghai, which was scheduled from June 30 to July 2, was cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak and international travel restrictions, among other circumstances. MWC Shanghai has swapped schedules this year with MWC Barcelona, the GSMA’s premiere telecoms industry trade show, which will now take place from June 28 to July 1.

The GSMA’s MWC Shanghai trade show in June 2019 also cross-promoted the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Photo: Getty Images

Like in 2019, the US-China tech war is expected to remain the elephant in the room at this year’s MWC Shanghai.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Washington on Monday to scrap tariffs on Chinese imports and remove restrictions on the tech sector, laying out conditions for restoring damaged China-US relations.

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