The impact that coronavirus has had on the world is truly shocking. It has robbed families of loved ones, disrupted global economies and generated tremendous levels of fear and anxiety. It has most certainly affected the global mobile device industry. Since the virus emanated in China, Chinese production lines for electronic devices have been significantly disrupted – factories and retail stores have closed while authorities work fast to stem its spread.

The mobile market in Africa is about to enter a golden age. According to a recent report from the GSMA, Sub-Saharan Africa is set to have the world’s fastest growth in smartphone uptake, with 160 million new mobile subscribers by 2025.

Over the years, Apple’s strategy for success has changed dramatically. While Apple started its foray into the world of tech with the launch of computers, it moved into the world of music with the launch of the iPod, and then into the smartphone market with the revolutionary launch of the iPhone.

The US/China trade-war has reached new heights. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen the media report on the moves made against Chinese manufacturer Huawei. News reports have discussed developments including Huawei being banned from Google’s Android services, and suspending business activity with the manufacturer to comply with the US Administration ban. This news is going to cause major implications for global smartphone makers and consumers alike across the globe.

Last month, I was invited to the GSMA’s Fraud and Security Group (FASG) event in Chicago. The FASG aims to drive the industry’s management of fraud and security matters, and along with raising awareness, looks to increase the protection of mobile operator technology, customer identity, security and privacy, to ensure that mobile operators remain trusted partners within the telecoms industry.

Estimated to be worth $17 billion, the global secondary device market continues to grow. Counterpoint Research reported that worldwide sales of refurbished smartphones were at 140 million units in 2018. Though this was just a 1% growth over 2017, India realized a 14% growth of pre-owned device sales equalling 14 million units.

After months of planning and preparation, Mobile World Congress (MWC) now seems like a distant memory. With headlines and column inches over the past few months full of talk of 5G, 5G trials and 5G firsts, it comes as no surprise that the big focus for this year’s show was on the next generation of cellular technology.

2018 was an eventful year for the global smartphone market. We saw the usual flurry of new devices from the likes of Apple, Google and Samsung; we saw rumors and news stories about 5G devices, and we saw players such as Huawei, Xiaomi and OnePlus shake up the market, addressing consumer demands for lower priced devices, with more innovation.

HYLA Mobile began investing in the secondary device market in 2009. And almost a decade later, the market has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that continues to grow year on year. In fact, research from Counterpoint has shown that the fastest growing global smartphone market last year was for refurbished smartphones, which grew by 13%. 

“The goods of today are the resources of tomorrow, but at yesterday’s prices.”—Walter Stahel, Founder of the Product-Life Institute.