Nearly 2.5 crore users of smartphones<\/a>, feature phones and mobile devices<\/a> such as tablets and laptops are now facing the crisis of having to work without a functioning device in the country, ICEA said in a statement on Friday.
ICEA represents the likes of Xiaomi<\/a>, Oppo, Vivo, Apple, Lava and contract manufacturers like Foxconn and Wistron.
“We have written to the government that these numbers will expand to nearly 4 crores before the end of May. It is critical that mobile device sales via online, and in a phased manner via retail, as well as service centres with facilities for home delivery and pickup must be declared as “essential services,” in addition to grocery and medicines,” said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA.
As per ICEA estimates, an average 2.5 crore new phones are sold every month, a very large proportion of these purchases are replacements. The active population of mobile phones is 85 crore in India currently.
“…even with a much-improved quality of phones and mobile devices<\/a>, there is an approx 0.25% breakdown on a monthly basis. With the current mobile base at nearly 85 crores, it is clear that nearly 2.5 crore individuals are suffering due to non-availability of new devices or repair of their existing devices,” ICEA said.
ICEA earlier this week made a joint representation with CAIT (India’s largest retail body) to the Home Minister, Home Secretary, Commerce & Industry Minister, Secretary DPIIT and Secretary MeitY seeking “essential services” tag for mobile phones.
The body said that it has received support from MeitY, DPIIT and TRAI in addition to leading retail bodies.
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