Telecom
120m Used Smartphones Valued $17Bn to be Sold in 2016- Deloitte
Deloitte Global has predicted that in 2016 consumers will sell outright or trade in approximately 120 million used smartphones generating more than $17 billion for their owners, at an average value of $140 per device.
In an executive summary of its Technology, Media and telecommunications (TMT) predictions 2016, Deloitte said that this is a 50% increase from the 80 million smartphones traded in 2015, with a value of $11 billion, or an average value of $135.
The report obtained by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek showed that the value of sold or traded-in smartphones will likely be about twice that of wearables and 25 times the value of the virtual reality (VR) hardware market.
And the growth rate of the used smartphone market is forecast to be 4-5 times higher than the overall smartphone market.
“What’s more, we expect the practice of selling smartphones could well accelerate through 2020 as both consumers and suppliers increasingly embrace the practice of selling or acquiring second-hand smartphones.
We predict at least 10 percent of premium smartphones ($500 or higher) purchased new in 2016 will end up having three or more owners before being retired, and will still be used actively in 2020 or beyond. About half of the devices are expected to be traded in to manufacturers or carriers in exchange for credit toward a new smartphone. The remainder will likely be sold online privately, to retail shops or to second-hand device specialists.
“For consumers the primary incentives to sell a device – rather than keeping it as a spare, giving it to a family member or throwing it away – will likely be driven by the ease of doing so, the luster of owning a latest model device and the trade-in value on offer.
“We expect the market for acquiring second- (or third- or fourth-) hand devices to become steadily more organized. A decade back, those wishing to sell their old phones would often use online auctions or marketplaces, which could be far slower and uncertain relative to being quoted a trade-in value at the point of sale, or simply swapping one phone for another with a leasing plan”, the report reads.
However, in the future specialist companies may emerge which forecast trade-in values after one, two or more years of ownership, similar to the equivalent service providers in the automobile industry.
According to TMT Predications 2016, globally, “we expect there to be significant variation in the practice of trading in smartphones by market”.
Deloitte member firms’ research in 20 markets found that as of mid-2015 approximately 12 percent of all consumers sold their smartphones. Of these two-thirds sold their smartphones outright, and a third traded them in with an operator or device manufacturer. In Singapore, about a quarter of smartphones were traded in; in Norway, Italy, Russia and Finland, only five percent were sold or exchanged.
Deloitte Global would expect that over time, most markets should see a steady increase in trade-ins.
For smartphone vendors the direct benefits of a thriving second-hand market are three fold. First, encouraging an annual replacement cycle among a growing number of users may increase annual sales.
Second, the availability of a formal second-hand market could make their devices more affordable to customers with smaller budgets, without having to create less profitable, budget variants of their devices.
Used, refurbished premium smartphones may be more appealing than new unbranded devices. Third, there would likely be a margin in processing used phones, similar to that earned by car dealers.
The smartphone is the primary consumer electronics device by revenues and units, and its second hand market is a significant market in its own right.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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