20:20 Mobile

In 1986, long before the smartphone era, 20:20 Mobile began its journey as part of the Caudwell Group in the UK. The business was straightforward: distribute mobile phones and accessories. It operated behind the scenes, building the essential supply chain infrastructure that connected handset manufacturers to retailers and, ultimately, consumers. This was the foundational plumbing of the nascent mobile industry. A pivotal moment came in 2006 when private equity firm Doughty Hanson acquired the distribution and logistics arm from the Caudwell Group, officially establishing 20:20 Mobile as a standalone entity. This new phase saw the company expand significantly, becoming a major European distributor of mobile handsets and accessories. The company's core business was providing integrated supply chain solutions for the mobile industry, a critical but often invisible role. By the early 2010s, 20:20 Mobile was a significant player, with a customer base of over 3,500 and operations across Europe. This scale and expertise attracted the attention of a larger global player. In February 2014, the company's journey took its most significant turn when it was acquired by the American firm Brightstar Corp., founded by Marcelo Claure. The acquisition, which rebranded the European operations to Brightstar 20:20, expanded Brightstar's global footprint and integrated 20:20 Mobile's European network into a worldwide distribution and services powerhouse.