Leveraging Surplus Android Phones in India: Scalable Use Cases in Edge Computing, Digital Health, and Smart Infrastructure

Abstract

India’s rapid smartphone adoption and short device replacement cycles have led to a significant accumulation of surplus Android phones, many of which are discarded due to superficial hardware issues or software obsolescence [1]. These discarded devices, despite having adequate processing, sensing, and communication capabilities, often contribute to the country’s growing e-waste problem [2]. 

This paper presents a theoretical framework to model the repurposing of surplus Android smartphones as a cost-effective and scalable layer of decentralized digital infrastructure. We argue that these devices can be re-integrated into public systems to enable edge computing capabilities for a variety of social impact domains—including healthcare, education, environmental monitoring, and smart agriculture. 

To support this proposition, we introduce three core constructs: techno-social innovation, describing the co-evolution of community practices and technology; frugal digital infrastructure, which emphasizes low-cost, locally adaptable digital systems; and decentralized edge ecology, a conceptual model for loosely coupled edge devices operating collaboratively in resource-constrained environments. 

We propose a taxonomy of reuse applications and detail a prototype deployment focused on air quality monitoring using refurbished Android devices. Our findings illustrate how surplus smartphones can contribute to sustainable ICT infrastructure, digital inclusion, and e-waste mitigation efforts. This research extends the discourse on circular technology economies and offers actionable insights for low-resource settings in the Global South.