Cosmote Telekom has started selling refurbished smartphones through its Germanos retail network, as well as through the Cosmote and Germanos online stores. Customers can access refurbished devices at reduced prices, with additional savings available to Cosmote customers taking or renewing selected two-year Gigamax plans. Germanos is also offering extra incentives to customers who trade in an eligible used handset.

The move gives consumers another way to access smartphones without purchasing brand-new devices, while creating a structured route for used handsets to re-enter the market. Trade-in programmes are particularly important to the circular economy because they help collect devices that can potentially be tested, repaired and refurbished rather than being left unused in households.

For mobile operators and retailers, incorporating refurbished products directly into their sales channels can also strengthen the connection between new purchases and device reuse. A smartphone that is traded in can retain economic value through refurbishment and resale, extending its useful life and reducing the need for additional manufacturing.

The initiative reflects a broader European shift towards making refurbished technology a mainstream retail category. As operators increasingly combine trade-ins, refurbishment and resale, the mobile industry is moving towards a model where devices circulate between multiple users rather than following a simple purchase-and-disposal lifecycle.