South Korea now joins France, which banned mobile phones in primary and middle schools back in 2018, as one of the few countries to legislate a nationwide restriction. In the UK, debates around smartphone use in schools have intensified, with the government publishing guidance earlier this year encouraging schools to limit phone use during the school day.

The move that could reshape handset makers’ youth strategies, alter operator marketing approaches, and accelerate demand for mobile device management solutions.

The bill, approved this week, revises the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to introduce a nationwide prohibition on smartphones during class hours. It takes effect in March 2026, the beginning of the next academic year.

According to  Korea JoongAng Daily, the bill was supported by all parties signalling broad political consensus on the risks of digital overuse among children and teenagers.

The law establishes a default classroom ban on smartphones and other connected devices, but with carve-outs. Usage will still be permitted in emergencies, for authorised educational activities, or by students with disabilities requiring assistive tools. Schools will be free to decide how restrictions are implemented whether through on-site storage lockers, teacher enforcement, or school-wide bans.

The policy is framed around education, but hits the South Korea’s telecoms and device ecosystem where youth users are a critical growth segment.The ban will reduce daytime usage levels, potentially impacting app engagement, data consumption, and in-app advertising among school-aged demographics.

Handset makers are facing increased scrutiny over youth-focused features, such as parental controls, screen time management, or education-approved “school modes.” These could evolve into differentiators in a competitive domestic market where Samsung already commands strong brand loyalty among younger users. HMD has embraced this issue d launched ia nude-banning Fuse phone

Impact on Mobile Operators

The ban poses risks and opportunities for SK Telecom, KT Corp, and LG U+. Lower in-class usage could dampen short-term data consumption among students. Butoperators may reposition tariffs and bundles around “after-school” connectivity, family safety features, or content services.

The ruling also comes at a tough moment for SK Telecom. The operator was this week fined $97 million over a major data breach affecting 27 million users.

While not yet law, some local authorities have introduced strict campus policies, mirroring the South Korean approach.

For European operators and handset makers, the risk is that tighter restrictions could dampen youth usage patterns, cutting into valuable data consumption and app engagement hours. At the same time, the growing policy focus on digital wellbeing could create new commercial opportunities in parental control tools, education-specific devices, and regulated app ecosystems.

Regulators in the UK and across Europe may now face mounting pressure to legislate, raising new strategic questions for the telecoms and device industries on how to serve the youth market in a more controlled environment.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/south-korea-classroom-smartphone-ban-poses-questions-entire-mobile-industry/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/mwc-25-contributed-nearly-0-5bn-barcelona-economy-reports-gsma/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/mwc-25-contributed-nearly-0-5bn-barcelona-economy-reports-gsma/#respond Fri, 13 Jun 2025 15:34:17 +0000 https://mncwp.tailrd.cloud/mwc-25-contributed-nearly-0-5bn-barcelona-economy-reports-gsma/ The GSMA says MWC Barcelona 2025 contributed an estimated £477million to the local economy, up from £426 million in 2024. The event also creaed 13,000 part-time jobs ad, since 2006, has generated a total £5.8 billion for the economy and supported 173,000 part-time roles. MWC25 attracted109,000 attendees from 205 countries and territories, with over 2,900 exhibitors,

The GSMA says MWC Barcelona 2025 contributed an estimated £477million to the local economy, up from £426 million in 2024.

The event also creaed 13,000 part-time jobs ad, since 2006, has generated a total £5.8 billion for the economy and supported 173,000 part-time roles.

MWC25 attracted109,000 attendees from 205 countries and territories, with over 2,900 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners participating across Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuïc.

Key Metrics from MWC25:

• €561 million in economic impact

• 13,000+ part-time jobs created

• 109,000 attendees

• 2,900+ exhibitors and partners

• 1,200+ speakers, with 41% women

• 188 government delegations from 148 countries

• 4YFN featured 1,000+ startups and €60 billion in investment capital

• 56% of attendees from adjacent sectors

• 21% C-level executives, 50% director level and above

• 2,900+ media representatives and analysts

• 182,450 media stories globally

John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd stated: “Our partnership with Barcelona continues to bring benefits on both sides. We’re pleased to play a role in the city’s economic and digital development. MWC’s impact extends beyond the four-day event. Programmes such as Mobile World Capital’s Talent Arena, 4YFN, and mSchools contribute to digital skills development, startup growth, and educational innovation in the region”.

 

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/mwc-25-contributed-nearly-0-5bn-barcelona-economy-reports-gsma/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/arrests-made-11-7-million-mobile-phone-european-vat-fraud-scheme/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/arrests-made-11-7-million-mobile-phone-european-vat-fraud-scheme/#respond Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:39:11 +0000 https://mncwp.tailrd.cloud/arrests-made-11-7-million-mobile-phone-european-vat-fraud-scheme/ Five people have been arrested in connection with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into an £11.7 million VAT fraud involving the trade of second-hand mobile phones. The arrested individuals have been charged with tax fraud. If convicted, they face five to 10 years in prison. Authorities seized assets worth £2  million, including houses, cars,

]]> Five people have been arrested in connection with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into an £11.7 million VAT fraud involving the trade of second-hand mobile phones.

The arrested individuals have been charged with tax fraud. If convicted, they face five to 10 years in prison.

Authorities seized assets worth £2  million, including houses, cars, motorcycles, precious stones, luxury handbags, and watches. Bank accounts were frozen, and key IT data and documents were secured.

Czechia’s National Agency against Organized Crime (NCOZ) and Latvia’s Revenue Service Tax and Customs Police Department (VID) carried out searches in multiple locations. Three suspects were arrested in Latvia, and extradition proceedings to Czechia are ongoing. Another individual was taken into custody in Czechia.

Authorities believe the suspects fraudulently applied a reduced VAT rate to mobile phones imported from the USA  and other non-EU countries by falsely declaring them as EU-origin goods. This allegedly allowed them to unlawfully benefit from the VAT margin scheme, which is only applicable to goods previously sold within the EU.

Under EU tax law, resellers can use the ‘margin taxation’ scheme when selling second-hand goods bought from private individuals or from sellers who have already paid full VAT. This scheme allows VAT to be applied only to the profit margin (the difference between the purchase and resale price) rather than the total sale price. However, investigators suspect the accused unlawfully used this provision, enabling them to sell mobile phones at lower market prices, creating unfair competition.

Evidence-gathering took place in Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, and Slovakia under Article 31 of the EPPO Regulation, which facilitates faster cross-border investigations. This allows EPPO’s European Delegated Prosecutors to request specific investigative measures from their colleagues in other participating Member States more efficiently than through traditional judicial cooperation..

The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union, responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment crimes against the EU’s financial interests.

 

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/arrests-made-11-7-million-mobile-phone-european-vat-fraud-scheme/feed/ 0

Majithia is the co-owner and COO  of vehicle customisation and wrapping company Yiannimize and co-founded Genuine Solutions Group in 2005.

His new role at Zone Global is part of the company’s global expansion strategy to scale its operations, particularly in the UK, Europe, and the USA.

With a career spanning nearly two decades in the telecoms industry, Majithia co-founded Genuine Solutions in 2005, before exiting in 2019. Since then, he has invested in technology, TV shopping, and clothing businesses. In 2021, he partnered with Yianni Charalambous and masterminded the expansion of Yiannimize into new business avenues.

“I saw this as a great opportunity to contribute to a company with a clear vision for growth. Zone Global has ambitious expansion plans, and I believe my experience and industry insights will add real value. With a strong focus on scaling operations in the UK and Europe, I am excited to help steer and support their journey,” he said.

Zone Global CEO and founder Daniel Parsonage added:

“I am thrilled to welcome Bav to the Zone Global team. He is a highly respected industry specialist with a wealth of knowledge and an extensive network of contacts. He has a proven track record of building successful businesses. This is a significant win for Zone Global. Bav will be working closely with myself and the senior management team to drive our growth strategy, particularly in expanding our presence in the UK/EU and USA markets. His experience and insights will be invaluable as we embark on this exciting next chapter for the company.”

Zone Global UK and Europe general manager Noel Heaton commented “ I first worked with Bav at Genuine Solutions and I am delighted to welcome him to the teaml. Bav’s entrepreneurial spirit and track record in driving organic growth is coming to Zone Global at exactly the right time. “

Zone Global emphasises corporate social responsibility alongside asset recovery and root cause analysis. It collaborates with approved Responsible Recycling (R2) organisations and other companies seeking sustainable recycling solutions.  It is a mahor suppporter of the Ocean Cleanup non-profit organisation that is developing and scaling technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. 

Allstate Protection Plans, formerly known as SquareTrade, offers extended warranties and protection plans for consumer electronics, appliances, furniture, and more. The company is a subsidiary of Allstate, one of the largest insurance companies in the U.S.

Kingfisher was founded in 2016 by CEO Georgiann Reigle and Peter Hirschmann, a former CEO of Assurion Asia. Before Kingfisher, Reigle held various leadership roles, including Managing Director at the British company ghd, known for its high-end hairstyling tools. She was also a consultant at Bain & Company.

“We entered the market with the belief that carriers and consumers deserve a better, more flexible mobile experience,” said Reigle.

“With the global reach, resources, and financial strength of Allstate, we are now positioned to drive the efficient circulation of both new and second-life devices to potentially billions of users, significantly reducing the environmental impact of mobile device usage worldwide.”

Karl Wiley, Global President and CEO of Allstate Protection Plans added: “Allstate Protection Plans partners with some of the world’s leading mobile carriers, including Telenor Group, Softbank, Three, and T-Mobile, and the mobile industry remains a key area of growth for us globally,” said. “We are thrilled to welcome the Kingfisher team to Allstate. By bringing this world-class team of experts onboard, we gain a significant competitive advantage over traditional companies in the wireless industry, further enhancing our ability to meet the evolving needs of carriers and consumers alike.”?

Allstate aims to enhance its offerings for key partners like T-Mobile, SoftBank, and Telenor.

NB: Kingfisher-mx UK VP John Coleman will be appearing at Mobile News secondary market conference Circular Summit in London next week (October 22) discussing trade-in models and platforms. More than 100 mobile channel professionals will be attending. Get your delegate pass HERE.

But although shipments of devices increased, the value of the secondary market declined by 13 per cent to $7.7 billion due to the popularity of older devices such as the iPhone 11, which still contributes a significant share of shipments.

Apple remains the dominant brand in the secondary market, with an estimated 17 million iPhones shipped in the quarter. This contributed 62 per cent of the overall volume, with particular strength in North America. Samsung was the second-largest brand, performing strongly in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Accelerating

Leo Gebbie, Principal Analyst and Director for the Americas, commented, “Consumer demand for second-hand smartphones is accelerating, with low-cost iPhones remaining the most popular pre-owned devices. Our data confirms this, showing that market volume and value are dominated by Apple products. As a result, shifts in demand for iPhones are the most important factor affecting the market on a quarterly basis.”

“Demand for Apple’s recently unveiled iPhone 16 range has the potential to fuel the upgrade cycle in the primary smartphone market. If so, it will result in a wave of traded-in iPhones reaching the second-hand market and provide a welcome boost to supply, which continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing the market”.

Potential

Gebbie noted, “The potential for a ‘supercycle’ of iPhone 16 upgrades has been a hot topic in the industry. A mass movement of users to the latest model could result in a flood of iPhone 12, 13, and even 14 devices reaching the organized secondary market. This will depend on whether Apple Intelligence is a big enough draw to truly move the needle in terms of upgrades.” 

“Another crucial dynamic is the impending Radio Equipment Directive in the EU. Slated for 28 December 2024, the regulation will require all devices to support USB-C, with the intention of reducing e-waste by outlawing proprietary chargers.

“This regulation will affect both the primary and secondary markets, and CCS Insight estimates that more than 60% of the European second-hand smartphone market will not support USB-C when the ruling comes into force. Although the ban applies only to imported models, CCS Insight predicts that by 2025, this will cut two out of five units from supply, or 8 million smartphones, worth €2 billion in sales.

USB-C mandate

Simon Bryant, Vice President of Research, explained, “The USB-C mandate will strain the still-emerging circular industry, which has already seen several companies cease trading this year because of tough market conditions. It also risks pushing trading into unregulated channels and is likely to promote parallel imports bypassing EU customs.”

CCS Insight observes that Europe is the greatest importer of used phones, primarily from the US as well as Japan and Singapore. Bryant added, “This situation demonstrates Europe’s dependence on devices from other regions and, ultimately, the non-circular behavior of consumers and channels in Europe, despite their commitment to sustainability initiatives. The European telecom industry recognizes that it needs to address low trade-in rates throughout the region, but it is still far behind the US and Japan, which generate much higher volumes.”

In 2024, CCS Insight expects that sales volumes in the organized secondary market for smartphones will outperform 2023, but with significant variation by region. Notably, year-on-year growth will outpace the market for new devices as consumers continue to see the benefits of purchasing second-hand technology to save money and help the environment.

The latest quarterly update of the market tracker is available now. Contact CCS Insight for more information.

Simon Bryant and Ben Wood will be revealingu more about pre-owned device sales at Mobile News conference Circular Summit, the UKs only secondary market business event.

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]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/outpace-sales-new-units-popularity-older-model-reduces-value/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/former-vodafone-director-will-new-gsma-director-general/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/former-vodafone-director-will-new-gsma-director-general/#respond Mon, 09 Sep 2024 09:14:22 +0000 https://mncwp.tailrd.cloud/former-vodafone-director-will-new-gsma-director-general/ Vodafone’s former Regional CEO of Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, Vivek Badrinath, will become GSMA director general and  GSMA Board member in April. This follows the announcement in June 2024 that current director general, Mats Granryd, will step down after MWC Barcelona. From March, he will take on a new role as special advisor

Vodafone’s former Regional CEO of Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific, Vivek Badrinath, will become GSMA director general and  GSMA Board member in April.

This follows the announcement in June 2024 that current director general, Mats Granryd, will step down after MWC Barcelona. From March, he will take on a new role as special advisor to the Board for the remainder of 2025.

“Vivek’s deep understanding of the industry and its potential makes him the ideal individual to lead the GSMA into the next phase of its evolution. I am confident that Vivek will work, together with the Board and our excellent GSMA Leadership Team, to drive change and innovation, creating value for both the industry and society,” said GSMA chairman andn Telefonica CEO  José María Álvarez-Pallete López

“I look forward to working with the GSMA Board, its members, and the leadership team to extend and amplify the positive impact of the mobile ecosystem for people, industry, and society globally,” said Badrinath.

Badrinath has held leadership roles, most recently at Vantage Towers AG, where he was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Management Board.

Badrinath began his career at Orange where he held various technical and operational roles. He moved on to become the CEO of the Africa, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific region,Badrinath shifted industries when he joined AccorHotels as deputy CEO in 2014 helping the company modernise and expand its digital footprint.

He then became CEO of Vantage Towers, a Vodafone spin-off that operates and manages telecom towers across Europe. He holds a degree from the École Polytechnique and an engineering degree.

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FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel (main pic) has proposed new unlocking rules that would allow consumers the freedom to take their existing phones and switch from one mobile wireless service provider to another more easily, as long as the consumer’s phone is compatible with the new provider’s wireless network.

eSIM technology means customers could switch networks and activate new lines in seconds. On July 26, the FCC will vote on the proposal to expand unlocking requirements to establish a clear and uniform set of rules for all mobile service providers.

The proposal would also seek comments on whether an unlocking requirement should be applied to existing contracts or future contracts.

Impact

It also seeks comments on the impact of a 60-day unlocking requirement on service providers’ incentives to offer discounted phones for postpaid and prepaid service plans, as well as whether an unlocking requirement would benefit smaller providers, new entrants, and resellers by increasing the number of phones available on the secondary market

“Real competition benefits from transparency and consistency,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.

“That is why we are proposing clear, nationwide mobile phone unlocking rules. When you buy a phone, you should have the freedom to decide when to change service to the carrier you want and not have the device you own stuck by practices that prevent you from making that choice.”

“Mobile phone unlocking can increase consumer choice and competition in the wireless service provider marketplace. Updated unlocking rules would give consumers more flexibility when switching service providers, increase competition by reducing consumer switching costs, and reduce customer confusion by applying the same unlocking rules to all mobile service providers.”

The FCC would seek comments on requiring all mobile wireless service providers to unlock mobile phones 60 days after the device is activated with the provider.

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The seven-day plans aim to provide reliable internet in over 200 countries, helping travellers stay connected without worrying about running out of data.

Users download the eSIM and get unlimited internet, avoiding extra fees for going over a data limit. The service works in more than 200 countries and there are special packages for big events, letting travellers choose what best fits their trip.

The service is activated without the need for a physical SIM card. GK Telecom aims to make these plans budget-friendly for all types of travellers.

The company stresses the need for dependable internet access for those traveling and sees these eSIM plans as the answer.

“This move is seen as a big step forward in meeting the connectivity needs of travellers worldwide” said GK Telecom

Iridium blamed smartphone makers for not including the technology in their devices, leading Qualcomm to end the agreement.

This week the two companies called off the partnership they announced in January to enable satellite messaging and emergency services in smartphones to be powered by Snapdragon Mobile Platforms. The goal was that a new generation of smartphones would be able to send emergency messages from anywhere on the planet with a view of the open sky.

The collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies was to support satellite services into a variety of smartphone brands and expand to other consumer devices.

But the deal had “collapsed under its own weight” according to Charles Miller, head of sat2phone telecoms provider Lynk Global.

“The economics of so many players makes no sense for the sat2phone business. With so many players taking a cut the solution was too costly Qualcomm insisted on a share for its role in the Iridium partnership and spent the last 10 months talking to handset manufacturers. Samsung was key Meanwhile, network operators were asking what do they get. Neither Samsung nor the MNOs were going to get involved without a significant share of revenue. They could not get to an answer that made sense”.

“There were too many cooks in the kitchen. Their solution was too costly for a marginal emergency texting service. Iridium can’t even support regular SMS texting for the billions of customers who want this service. It is an extremely limited service. Regular SMS texting is orders of magnitude larger than emergency texting”, sad Miller

“I believe Samsung did not want to pay the extra cost of giving Qualcomm a big piece of the action If you are Samsung, you don’t need Qualcomm. Samsung is following the Apple path, and increasingly bringing the radio chips in-house. Samsung can build its radio chips and can get rid of the Qualcomm tax.”