Day 3 in Barcelona: sustainability concerns, market consolidation, and key industry updates

Yesterday, SecondaryMarket.news voiced our concern that sustainability was virtually absent at this year’s MWC, completely overshadowed by the latest hype: AI. But sustainability isn’t a trend—it’s a daily necessity. On our third and final day at the show, we did spot some references to sustainability among the industry giants. Lenovo claims to be “leveraging AI to enhance sustainability through smarter measurements and increased efficiency.” A bold statement, but it feels a bit like an empty box to us. Ericsson’s take was more straightforward: “Sustainability: Working together for a better future.” That at least makes sense.

GSMA Glomo Award snub: Closing the Loop deserved more recognition

And one last complaint: we were disappointed to learn that the GSMA Glomo award for Outstanding Mobile Contribution to the UN SDGs did not go to Closing the Loop and Vodafone’s highly impactful one-for-one scheme, which actively removes used phones from landfills in Africa. While we’re sure SK Telecom did something great, we seriously question whether its impact outweighs that of Closing the Loop.

Counterpoint and the future of the secondary market

We kicked off our day with a meeting with research firm Counterpoint. It’s always valuable to exchange insights and assess the latest trends. We found plenty of common ground—especially on the outlook for the secondary market, which is facing financial challenges. The coming years will likely bring a shakeout and a new wave of consolidation.

gsmX full of traders

At Barcelona’s WTC, near the harbor, gsmX hosted its annual traders’ meeting and exhibition. Industry leaders like Alchemy, USMP, Mercantile Pacific, and many others showcased their services.

Phonecheck expands diagnostic capabilities with Apple Watch and AirPods

We were particularly interested in speaking with Phonecheck. Founded in 2010 by Chris Sabeti and Scott Walker, this U.S.-based company specializes in mobile device diagnostics and data erasure solutions. Earlier this year, SecondaryMarket.news reported that Phonecheck is now an approved solution for Back Market’s Verified Refurbished program.

At gsmX, Phonecheck introduced two new modules for its modular suite: AirPod and Watch testing. Using Bluetooth for pairing devices with an Apple iPhone, they undergo within minutes a full functionality test, including data wipe and factory reset. This major upgrade will significantly improve efficiency and reduce processing time in grading and testing Apple AirPods and Watches.

Recommerce’s outlook and market positioning

On our way back to MWC - we shared a taxi with CCS Insight and Cambrionix – to our update meeting with Recommerce. This French company, a veteran in the European secondary market and founder of the European refurbished association Eurefas, remains highly optimistic about the secondary market’s growth, projecting an increase from €8 billion to €13 billion by 2029.

Recommerce anticipates industry consolidation in the near future and doesn’t rule out acquisitions if the right opportunities arise. The company runs a successful trade-in program, allowing them to retain and resell most of the devices they collect. In fact, 90% of the phones they sell come from their own trade-in stream—a remarkable figure. Even more impressive, a major OEM recently confirmed that Recommerce holds the highest attach rate in the market, both online and in-store with operators and retailers.