In conjunction with MWC 2023, set to begin today at the Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Tara Neal, Executive Editor at The Fast Mode spoke to Biju Nair, EVP & president of Assurant’s Global Connected Living business unit. In the brief interview, Biju discusses his predictions for this year’s theme, as well as the company’s participation and showcases at the event.
Tara: What topics, do you expect, will dominate this year’s MWC?
Biju: Sustainability has been growing in importance in the wireless industry and I expect it to be a major topic of conversation at this year’s MWC. We all share a responsibility to ensure that sustainable practices are integrated into the entire lifecycle of the mobile device. It’s our job to think through the balance of technology, environmental sustainability, and economics.
I am looking forward to the opportunities to engage with attendees surrounding the circular economy and how Assurant fits into the picture. I am proud that we’ve been at the forefront of enabling the circular economy by sourcing pre-owned devices in order to repurpose and extend their useful life and recycling their components when no longer meaningful. Since 2009, our trade-in and asset value recovery programs have repurposed and recycled more than 138 million mobile devices. This is exciting and I’m keen to not just chat about it further but to learn more from key MWC attendees. Surely, making it easy for consumers to trade in their smartphones, tablets, wearables, and hearables for redistribution in secondary markets is a win-win-win. Truly, the wins that the benefits are threefold: a benefit to the consumer who can off-set part of the cost of their next device upgrade. To the carriers and retailers who can recoup the value of used devices and resell them to people who otherwise may not be able to afford them. And for the enormous environmental benefits from diverting potential e-waste from landfills.
Tara: What are the key event themes that you will be involved in?
Biju: I will be part of a panel discussion at MWC titled Is a 5G Future for Everyone? We will discuss the growing digital divide and whether 5G could further widen or help close that gap.
Several panelists will tackle the issue from an infrastructure standpoint including satellite, fiber backhaul, fixed wireless access and cloud solutions. I will offer the perspective that closing the digital divide goes well beyond extending network coverage and capacity.
The lack of available, affordable 5G smartphones is a major barrier to 5G mobile broadband adoption, especially in emerging markets. Global 5G smartphone penetration is estimated to be between 13% and 18%, with premium 5G devices costing north of $1,000. This is out of reach for a significant number of global consumers – including vulnerable communities who would greatly benefit from digital inclusion.
And it’s more than just acquiring a phone. Think about all the products our smartphones have replaced over the years including, cameras, satnavs in cars and payment authenticators from banks. And now, with telehealth and remote learning solutions, smartphones are a vital link to health and wellbeing.
Fortunately, the growth of the secondary device market is helping achieve digital equity. It has made these high-end devices available for much less than their retail value. It’s a phenomenal success story – not just because it’s a sustainability drive, but because it’s a revenue generator and benefits every member of its ecosystem including carriers, OEMs, retailers, and consumers.
By continuing to cultivate the secondary device market, this growing ecosystem will be critical in the wider adoption of mobile 5G worldwide.
Tara: What are your showcases/highlights at the event?
Biju: I will be meeting with many of Assurant’s global client partners at MWC to explore innovative solutions for improving the customer experience. A superlative customer experience is critical given that consumer trust is earned or lost depending on that experience. One of Assurant’s solutions that typifies our mission to help our partners enable their customers to thrive in a connected world is the Assurant Kiosk: a compact, low-cost, self-service, retail solution for mobile device trade-in programs and in-store diagnostics.
One of the smallest and most cost-effective kiosks on the market, it fully automates mobile device returns by evaluating, collecting, and securing mobile device returns as an integrated part of any trade-in program. Assurant brands the kiosks specific to the wireless provider/retailer and customizes it for retail settings. Based on advanced diagnostic capabilities, the Assurant Kiosk determines the optimal price point for both the customer and carrier. The device owner can start their trade-in online or at the kiosk and finish the process in a matter of minutes with an immediate payment option. In addition to convenience and time savings for customers, the kiosks free up retail sales staff to focus on selling new services and devices.
As consumers continue to drive trade-in volumes with upgrades to 5G devices, I would argue that such a Kiosk solution has the potential to transform the already industry-leading customer experience we provide for carriers, retailers, and their customers.
