- \n
- – How do we build trust in the used device market? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – What does the energy transition mean for tower infrastructure? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – How do we power AI, and do it responsibly? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – And how do we ensure networks remain resilient in an unpredictable world? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
These are no longer side conversations. They\u2019re the 2026 telecom industry trends shaping the future of mobile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Circular Economy Is No Longer Niche<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Refurbished phones were once viewed as a budget alternative \u2013 an afterthought in the device market. That perception is rapidly changing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why refurbished phone sales are surging <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Consumers are holding on to devices for longer, now averaging 3.5 years up from around two years a decade ago<\/a>. At the same time younger consumers are placing greater emphasis on environmental impact. The result is steady growth in refurbished device sales (5-10% annually) contrasting with flat or even declining projections for new handset sales over the next five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sessions at MWC Barcelona 2026 like ‘Would you buy a used phone? How to build consumer confidence in refurbished devices’<\/a>, \u2018Closing the Confidence Gap: The Hidden Friction Slowing Mobile Growth\u2019<\/a> and \u2018Could industry guidance on labelling boost consumer confidence in refurbished phones?<\/a>\u2019 highlighted a critical barrier: trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consumers want clarity. What does \u201crefurbished\u201d actually mean? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – Is the battery new? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – Has it been properly tested? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – Does it come with a warranty? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0confidence gap holding back faster growth\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While half of consumers express interest in refurbished devices<\/a>, only a fraction follow through with a purchase. Closing this confidence gap is key to unlocking further growth. The GSMA continued work on this issue by convening a high-level roundtable with players from across the device supply chain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the GSMA pavilion, the opportunity was bought to life by Recommerce<\/a>, whose platform can instantly scan and evaluate your phone, and provide a real-time trade-in value based on the condition it\u2019s in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"GSMA\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/vivek_at_demo_800x400.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The takeaway is clear: with the right approach, transparency, and user experience, circular models can scale \u2013 improving affordability, reducing e-waste, and creating new revenue streams. The circular economy isn\u2019t a niche sustainability play; it is becoming core business strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AI\u2019s Energy Appetite: Opportunity Meets Responsibility<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now let\u2019s talk about the elephant in the data centre: AI\u2019s energy consumption. AI is transforming the telecoms landscape \u2013 from network optimisation to customer service \u2013 but it comes with a rapidly growing energy footprint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Balancing AI growth with sustainability <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This tension was front and centre in the \u201cAI\u2019s Energy Bill\u201d<\/a> session at Ministerial Programme, an invite-only space for policymakers and regulators at the heart of MWC. During this session, Thomas Spencer, lead author of the IEA\u2019s landmark Energy and AI report<\/a>, shared key findings from the agency\u2019s latest research, which highlighted the scale of the challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"AI](\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/thomas_ai_energy_bill_800x400-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scale of AI energy consumption
<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAI promises efficiency and automation, but the infrastructure required to power it is immense \u2013 and often located in already energy-constrained urban areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider the scale: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Today\u2019s hyperscale data centres can consume as much energy as 100,000 households <\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Future AI-focused facilities could exceed the equivalent of one million homes, with some announced projects approaching five million. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even at a smaller scale, the intensity is striking: a single AI data centre rack \u2013 roughly the size of a large fridge \u2013 can consume as much energy as 200 household ovens on full blast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The challenge is clear: how can the industry harness AI while keeping energy consumption under control? The answer lies in balance: combining smarter networks, greener infrastructure, and AI-enabled optimisation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can AI help to solve its own energy problem? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Operators are already using AI to dynamically power down parts of mobile networks during low traffic hours, reducing energy use without compromising service quality. In this sense, technology is beginning to solve the very challenges it creates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the GSMA side, we have been investigating this issue, looking at the possible impact on telecommunication energy use, both positive and negative. Check out our report when it\u2019s published next month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Hear about our latest insights and publications by subscribing to the External Affairs newsletter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nSubscribe now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tower Infrastructure: From Cost Centre to Energy Asset<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As energy becomes a strategic priority, tower companies are emerging as key players in the transition. Increasingly they are not just hosting equipment, they are managing power through grid resilience, solarisation, and energy-as-a-service. But why do energy efficiency and clean energy investments stall and what would accelerate them? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Real-world examples of sustainable tower innovation <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Discussions at the Tower Summit<\/a> explored how different ownership models from landlord-tenant to energy-as-a-service to full outsourcing lead to different incentives and therefore need different approaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Real world examples showed what\u2019s possible: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – American Tower<\/a> has deployed solar power and lithium-ion battery systems across thousands of sites in Africa, reducing reliance on diesel generators and improving energy resilience in areas with unreliable grid electricity. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – Cellnex<\/a> is piloting the integration of tower batteries with energy-management platforms. These systems can store electricity when renewable generation is high and release it when the grid is under pressure, helping stabilise electricity networks while also earning revenue through grid services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Solving the energy trilemma <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The approaches address the energy \u201ctrilemma\u201d: reducing carbon emissions, improving resilience, and maintaining cost efficiency. In some cases, they even unlock new revenue streams through grid-balancing services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Telecom towers are evolving into distributed energy assets \u2013 an important, and often overlooked, component of future energy systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re interested in learning more about the future of energy grids and how these \u2018virtual power plants\u2019 work, check out our Smart Energy Systems report<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Climate Commitments to Measurable Business Impact<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Climate discussions in telecoms have traditionally focused on commitments and long-term targets. That is changing. The conversation is shifting from ambition to execution \u2013 from targets to measurable business impact. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One MWC session posed a simple but powerful question: \u201cHow Green Is Your Bottom Line?\u201d<\/a> It reflects a broader shift: sustainability is no longer solely an environmental concern \u2013 telecom sustainability initiatives are delivering strong ROI. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why sustainability is now a financial metric <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Energy costs, supply chains, infrastructure efficiency, and customer expectations are converging. Companies that act decisively are seeing tangible benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example Telef\u00f3nica has: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – saved \u20ac2.2 billion from energy-efficiency projects since 2010 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – raised roughly \u20ac18.8 billion in sustainable and green financing <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- – generated \u20ac782 million in eco-service revenues in 2024 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/solutions-and-impact\/connectivity-for-good\/external-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Laura_speaking_mwc.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re seeing this approach in company Climate Transition Plans<\/a> as climate action is moving from strategy slides to operational reality \u2013 and increasingly, into financial performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Building\u00a0Resilient\u00a0Networks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resilience has moved firmly up the agenda. In a world shaped by extreme weather, geopolitical uncertainty, and rising digital dependence, connectivity is critical infrastructure. Networks must not only perform \u2013 they must endure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- – generated \u20ac782 million in eco-service revenues in 2024 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – raised roughly \u20ac18.8 billion in sustainable and green financing <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – saved \u20ac2.2 billion from energy-efficiency projects since 2010 <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – Cellnex<\/a> is piloting the integration of tower batteries with energy-management platforms. These systems can store electricity when renewable generation is high and release it when the grid is under pressure, helping stabilise electricity networks while also earning revenue through grid services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – American Tower<\/a> has deployed solar power and lithium-ion battery systems across thousands of sites in Africa, reducing reliance on diesel generators and improving energy resilience in areas with unreliable grid electricity. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – Does it come with a warranty? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – Has it been properly tested? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – Is the battery new? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – And how do we ensure networks remain resilient in an unpredictable world? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- – How do we power AI, and do it responsibly? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- – What does the energy transition mean for tower infrastructure? <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n