"For you it was incremental - here it is revolutionary", says Isaac Nsereko of MTN, Africa's biggest mobile operator, in order to describe how crucial mobile communications are in the developing world. Mobile phones do not only provide a more convenient way than a landline to people to make calls.According to a recent study, adding an extra 10 phones per 100 people in a developing country boosts growth in GDP per person 0.8 percentage points.
The statistics point to a tremendous growth in mobile subscribers in the developing world and especially in the emerging markets of India, China, Brazil. In the year till March 2009 an additional 128m signed up in India, 89m in China, and 96m in Africa.
It might seem surprising that even people of the lowest class can afford a mobile phone in countries such as India, where only 89 per cent have access to improved water sources, 44 per cent of children below 5 suffer from malnutrition, or the literacy rate (( % of population age 15+) is still approximately 61 per cent (Source: World Bank, 9/24/08)....
I was surprised to see modernity and tradition coming together in India. A lot of women who are attached to their families and homes and serve as housewives but they are mobile and use freely wireless communication on a daily basis.The Indian model in telecommunication services has proofed very powerful and many operators in other countries are adopting it.
A second trend is observed in China. Two of the leading telecoms there, Huawei and ZTE, are building trust with clients and reputation on a global scale because they are focusing on innovation.
I consider the third trend most beneficial for countries in the developing world. In Western Europe, America, and Australia data services have been in existence for a while and have revolved around music downloads and gaming. In the developing world mobile services such as mobile-phone based agriculture advice, money transfer, health care etc will have an immediate economic and social impact.
Source: The Economist Sept 26 - October 2nd
Saturday, October 3, 2009
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