The telecommunications sector has always been about planning for the long haul. Stable infrastructure, predictable rollouts, and carefully negotiated supply chains were once the norm. But today, telcos are no longer operating in a predictable world, They are navigating what Eaton describes as a “state of permacrisis.”
In a recent Reader Forum article for RCR Wireless News, Tom Eaton, CEO of the Americas at TXO Group, described how telcos are shifting from a ‘just-in-time’ to a ‘just-in-case’ procurement model as supply chains grow more volatile.”
The end of supply chain certainty
Global supply chains that once appeared reliable are now anything but. Pandemics, geopolitical conflict, trade restrictions, and even extreme weather events have converged into overlapping shocks that stretch hardware lead times and inflate costs. As analyst Jimmy Yu of Dell’Oro points out, these pressures are especially acute for equipment “that has higher hardware than software content.”
For operators racing to deliver 5G and fibre at scale, often under government-backed rollout deadlines, this fragility creates a high-stakes challenge. The industry can no longer assume the right equipment will simply arrive on time.
The pivot to just-in-case procurement
In response, telcos are abandoning the lean “just-in-time” model in favour of “just-in-case.” Stockpiling, supplier diversification, and more agile procurement frameworks are becoming the new norm. Even Tier 1 operators, once insulated by their buying power, are rethinking their strategies to ensure they can keep deployment plans on track.
Speed has also become a critical driver. Modular and edge deployments are surging because they allow for quicker rollouts than traditional builds. But to deliver at that pace, operators need equipment that is immediately accessible. Refurbished and surplus hardware often fills this gap, since it can be sourced locally or regionally without the long wait for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) deliveries.
Circularity as a competitive edge
The secondary market for telecom hardware is no longer simply about sustainability. It is now seen as a strategic safeguard. Reuse, refurbishment, and resale reduce risk, cut emissions, and accelerate rollouts simultaneously.
For smaller and rural operators, the benefits are clear. Access to affordable, locally available equipment helps them stay competitive despite limited purchasing power. For larger operators, circularity ensures that surplus stock does not sit idle. Hardware can be recertified and sold on, recapturing value and feeding resilience back into the supply chain.
And thanks to rigorous certification frameworks, refurbished equipment today is not a compromise. Operators can trust that secondary market hardware delivers the same performance and reliability as brand-new kit.
Procurement as strategy, not support
Perhaps the most significant change is mindset. Procurement is no longer a back-office function. It is a frontline enabler of resilience and growth. Eaton sums it up clearly: “Telecom procurement can no longer operate on the assumption that global supply chains will hold firm.”
In this new landscape, success will favour those who adopt flexible, decentralised, and circular sourcing models. Telcos that embrace this shift will not just withstand disruption, they will turn procurement into a lasting competitive advantage.
This blog draws on insights shared by Tom Eaton in his Reader Forum contribution to RCR Wireless News, which explored how procurement is becoming a strategic advantage in a world defined by disruption.