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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Mobile Communication Revolutionize Indian Economic and Social Development
New Delhi, India - Mobile communication is revolutionizing economic
and social life in rural India, spawning a wave of local entrepreneurs
and creating greater access to social services according to a new
study by The Center for Knowledge Societies (CKS) commissioned by
Nokia. The research identifies seven major service sectors including
transport, finance and healthcare that could be radically transformed
through mobile technologies.
Mobile phone ownership in India is growing rapidly, six million new
mobile subscriptions are added each month and one in five Indian's
will own a phone by the end of 2007. By the end of 2008, three
quarters of India's population will be covered by a mobile network.
Many of these new "mobile citizens" live in poorer and more rural
areas with scarce infrastructure and facilities, high illiteracy
levels, low PC and internet penetration. The study looks at how their
new mobility could be used to bridge the growing economic and social
digital divide between rural and urban areas.
Veli Sundback, Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations and
Responsibility, at Nokia, said, "Mobile phone ownership in India is
growing at a phenomenal pace. This new found mobility undoubtedly has
the potential to make a major contribution to socio-economic
development, and we recognise the responsibility we have to play a key
role in achieving this. This report builds on the work Nokia has been
doing in developing markets like India for several years to understand
how we can deliver on our goal of making universal access to
technology and the associated benefits a reality."
Dr. Aditya Dev Sood, the report author highlights how many new
adopters of mobile phones have found their incomes rise, he explained
these findings as the increased productivity made possible through
mobile communications. "While mobile phones are widely seen merely as
a communications medium, they should really be seen as a new and
essential form of infrastructure that will transform a host of other
service sectors in rural economies around the world," he said.
The report identifies seven service areas that could be
transformed for rural communities by mobile communications.
Transport - Finding cost-effective, reliable, and safe ways to
transport goods and services to market is a major problem for small
businesses in rural communities. Public transport is not available in
45% of villages in India, and only 1% of Indian households own a
vehicle. Mobile communication could be used to create and co-ordinate
car sharing schemes amongst villages, and provide real-time
information about public transport services and the ability
to make request stops.
Micro-commerce - Small businesses in rural areas often have to
travel significant distances to markets or other places they can
distribute their goods, and cannot make arrangements in advance with
buyers or other sellers. Mobile phones could significantly change the
logistical issues faced by rural traders and home entrepreneurs, by
affording mobile-based ordering systems, delivery requests, and the
ability to make more reliable and advance arrangements with business
partners or clients.
Finance - Mobile phones are already being used in rural areas as a
tool for financial transactions by swapping airtime for goods and
services. The study encourages mobile networks and financial services
institutions to work together to test and develop new financial
services in this area and address how people can transfer these
credits into cash.
Healthcare - New mobile services in this area could better connect
rural communities, creating networks to share and discuss health
information and advice.
Governance - Accessing information about public services remains a
major challenge for many rural communities. Mobile phones provide a
new platform through which rural communities will be able to access
government information and services, using text, data, and audio
browsing techniques.
Education -The study looks at a range of educational services that
could be provided via mobiles to children in remote villages and
communities, particularly where PCs or connections to the internet are
not available. Mobile phones could serve as an essential means for
children to become connected to one another for educational and peer-
learning activities. These are particularly important for communities
that are either nomadic or transitional on account of displacements
due to a natural disaster or for other reasons.
Infotainment - While the mainstream entertainment industry is
already well aware of the emerging potential of mobile media, there
are also many opportunities for local, peer-to-peer content to be
created and distributed, affording new cultural and economic
opportunities to rural communities.
The research is based on detailed ethnography and participant
observation among communities living in three rural areas of
India - Badaun in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Satara in the state of
Maharashtra and Chittradurga in the state of Karnataka - as well as
one urban area, Bangalore. Researchers meet with small business
owners, farmers, home owners and others to understand how mobile
communication has already transformed their daily lives and the
further potential of mobile communications to enhance livelihoods.
The study encourages national and international governments, the
mobile industry and NGOs to work together to support the development
of these services by increasing access to, and use of, mobile
communications in rural communities. Recommendations in the
report include:-
Local and state government needs to integrate their telecom
regulatory, tax and rural development policies, and do more to
incentivize and support the role out of mobile services across
the country.
The mobile industry needs to understands the social impact of mobile
connectivity in rural communities and make it as accessible as
possible to them. This does not only mean lower prices and costs of
ownership, to really make a contribution to development they will also
need to localise the mobile experience with relevant applications and
services. Many of these will be innovated at a grass roots level and
it is important for the mobile industry to work at this level to
deliver real improvements.
Non-governmental organisations have an important role to play in
working with state agencies to define the needs of rural communities
and together develop new ways to deliver a wide range of different
social and welfare services. To do this they also need to work much
more closely with the mobile industry to understand and test the
technological possibilities.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth
and sustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects
people to each other and the information that matters to them with
easy-to-use and innovative products like mobile phones, devices and
solutions for imaging, games, media and businesses. Nokia provides
equipment, solutions and services for network operators and
corporations.
About the Author
Dr. Aditya Dev Sood is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Knowledge
Societies (CKS). He has doctorates in Anthropology and Sanskrit
Philology from the University of Chicago. He is a former Fulbright
Scholar and has received several academic fellowships, awards and
distinctions, and graduated summa cum laude from the University of
Michigan. Sood is also the author of the CKS Guide to ICTs for
Development (2002), a booklet that received wide attention and
citation. At CKS he has directed a number of projects involving user
research, new product concepting, user experience and service design,
and organizational innovation management. He frequently speaks on
issues relating to technology, design, development and social research
at public forums.
About CKS
The Center for Knowledge Societies (CKS) is the world's leading
research, design and innovation company specializing in emerging
technologies for emerging economies. CKS has worked with the world's
leading handset manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, operators and
mobile solutions providers. CKS has pioneered new investigative field
research techniques for working with communities and individuals who
may not enjoy complete or continuous access to media, communications,
electricity and other forms of infrastructure. Through these
techniques it conceptualizes and develops innovative products and
services that harness the new possibilities of media, communications
and technology. The offices and studios of the Center for Knowledge
Societies serve as global hubs for those interested in social
research, technology, design, education and development. www.cks.in
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