In a collaborative effort to enhance financial and environmental sustainability within the telecoms industry, the GSMA and Shields Environmental Group (Shields) have introduced a new network equipment commerce platform at the MWC 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. 

GSMA Equipment Marketplace

Dubbed the GSMA Equipment Marketplace, this cloud-based global platform aims to facilitate the reuse, redeployment, and recycling of network assets for telecommunication providers worldwide. 

By leveraging this platform, telecom operators can streamline their procurement and decommissioning processes, thereby advancing their net zero environmental objectives and ensuring financial viability.

With a membership base exceeding 1,000 mobile operators and equipment manufacturers globally, the GSMA aims to revolutionize the procurement and decommissioning of fixed, mobile, or private networks.

By enabling operators to reuse and recycle more assets, the platform seeks to mitigate carbon emissions and reduce the extraction of environmentally damaging raw materials.

According to estimates by the GSMA, manufacturing network equipment and constructing network sites contribute significantly to carbon emissions, totaling over 30 million tonnes of CO2e annually. 

Supply chain emissions constitute a substantial portion of a telecommunication network operator's carbon footprint, with figures exceeding 80% in some cases. 

The GSMA Equipment Marketplace endeavors to address these challenges by facilitating asset reuse and recycling, thereby supporting the industry's ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

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Transition to Circular Economy

John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer and Climate Action sponsor at the GSMA, emphasized the importance of transitioning to a circular economy model to reduce emissions and minimize reliance on carbon-intensive equipment manufacturing.

"Transitioning to a more circular economy business model can help operators further lower their emissions, by reducing reliance on carbon-intensive equipment manufacturing. We believe this new platform from the GSMA and Shields can support telecommunication network providers in their efforts to reduce carbon emissions and limit their reliance on raw material extraction," Giusti said in a press statement.

Ninian Wilson, CEO of Vodafone Procurement Company and Director of Supply Chain Management, praised the platform for delivering revenue opportunities, cost savings, and carbon footprint reduction. 

Wilson welcomed the platform's expansion to serve the broader industry, enabling a more circular economy for network equipment on a larger scale.

The cloud-based platform offers users real-time visibility of assets and equipment, simplifying the procurement process through an intuitive interface. Network operators can identify cost-effective sources for required products, sell decommissioned equipment to a global buyer base, or opt for recycling services.

Furthermore, the platform enables network operators to quantify their carbon emissions reduction based on asset transactions conducted through the GSMA Equipment Marketplace. 

This data can be integrated into business reporting to showcase the brand's commitment to environmental sustainability and progress towards carbon targets. 

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