Europe seeks longer software and repair support for mobile devices
The Commission says the motive behind this initiative is to make smartphones and tablets more sustainable. These devices are already well-built and can hold strong for several years if taken care of properly. However, most manufacturers only support the devices for two to three years after launch. Moreover, they don’t provide genuine spare parts and repair guides for customers to self-repair the devices in case of damage. As a result, the lifespan of smartphones and tablets is forcefully limited to about three years. This leads to more e-waste and carbon emission. The EU wants to curb that by forcing manufacturers to support the device longer, both with features and security updates as well as repair parts. The draft regulation mentions 15 device components for which manufacturers will require to provide repair parts in the market. These include the battery, display, cameras, charging port, microphones, speakers, and SIM tray. It also covers the hinge for folding devices. This regulation also covers basic phones. So every mobile device should get the same level of support from manufacturers. Currently, companies offer better or longer support to their flagship products than low-cost ones. The European Commission is seeking to stop that practice as well. It remains to be seen whether this draft regulation develops into law in the EU. The Commission published the draft on August 31. It is open for public feedback for four weeks, until September 28. The lawmakers will take into account the public’s opinion before finalizing the initiative.
Samsung is already leading by example
This proposed European law may sound too much for some smartphone companies, but Samsung already offers better support than that. All its flagship models and select premium mid-rangers get four years of Android OS updates and five years of security updates. Some low-cost models don’t get the same support but the Korean firm, which is the world’s largest smartphone vendor, offers four years of security updates to all devices. Moreover, Samsung recently launched a self-repair program in the US. It facilitates easy repairing of Galaxy devices by providing repair parts, tools, and guides. So the company is already leading by example and the European Commission wants all other manufacturers to match it. European lawmakers are planning to adopt the new regulation before the end of this year but it could take longer. We will keep you posted.
