site.btaBulgarians Use Mobile Phones Longer, Keep Old Devices Less than other Europeans, Survey Shows

Nearly two-thirds of consumers in Bulgaria (64%) have been using their current mobile phone for more than three years, while in Europe that figure stands at 48%. The data comes from the Yettel mobile operator’s annual survey on mobile device usage in Bulgaria, which is representative of both urban and rural populations. The comparison with Europe is based on the latest report from the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) from late 2024, which covers some of the larger European countries - France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, as well as Azerbaijan.

The study shows that old mobile phones are most often kept at home - this is reported by 35% of Bulgarians and 36% of Europeans. The reasons consumers most often cite are the desire to have a backup device, not knowing what to do with it, and the presence of files they want to keep. 

As a result, 47% of Bulgarians keep at least one old phone at home, compared to 77% of consumers in other European countries. Eleven percent of Bulgarians do not know whether they have unused mobile devices at home, compared to just 2% in other European countries. 

The second most common scenario is that old phones are used by friends and relatives. Nearly a quarter of respondents indicated that they had given their unwanted devices to someone else. 

The Yettel study also reveals data on how old devices are disposed of: 7% of people in Bulgaria still throw away their old phones with general waste, compared to just 4% elsewhere in Europe. Nearly 8% of Bulgarians have turned in old devices for recycling, as opposed to 10% in other European countries.

When asked, “What would motivate you to turn in your old mobile phone for buyback or recycling?”, respondents most often cited: the opportunity for a profitable sale, secure erasure of personal data, and a convenient and easy process.

Bulgarian consumers’ willingness to have their phones repaired is also confirmed in practice - 68% of those surveyed said they would have their mobile phone repaired if it broke, and 70% of those whose phone broke said they had already had it repaired. 

Against this backdrop, extended warranties are highly valued - 91% of people consider them important, and interest in three- and four-year warranties is high. 

The high cost of repairs has deterred half of those surveyed from repairing their mobile phones, and 40% of consumers have decided that their phone is too old to be repaired. The desire to purchase a new device has led 35% of survey participants to forgo repairing their old phone. 

Despite the option to have their devices repaired, there are situations in which consumers still decide to buy a new device. This happens most often due to battery wear - according to 27% of Bulgarians and 35% of Europeans. One in four people in Bulgaria replaces their phone because the new model offers better features - a sign that people are keenly interested in technological progress and innovation. Other reasons include slow performance, malfunctions, and instances where the phone stops working altogether. 

Once they have decided to make a purchase, Bulgarian consumers most often focus on durability, battery life, and price. In Europe, the leading criteria are similar but with a different emphasis - battery life comes first, followed by durability and data security.