Automotive telematics and infotainment
applications quickly gaining momentum, says ABI
Only three years since the project started, new research
conducted at the Millennium Villages by Ericsson , The Earth
Institute and Millennium Promise shows that quality and
availability of health and education services improved thanks
to access to mobile connectivity. The recently published
report, The Impact of Mobile Connectivity on the Millennium
Development Goals in Africa, also shows increased benefits
were identified for small businesses by reducing transportation
costs and supporting micro business preconditions such as
price and market information being accessible.
It has also been reported that the results of the monitoring
and evaluation study -conducted in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya
and Tanzania- show that the introduction of mobile networks
has the potential to influence socio-economic development
for individuals and villages in remote areas. This is in
line with different studies done showing that 1.2 percent
growth GDP can be achieved in developing countries for every
10 percent increase in mobile penetration rate.
The release says that the aid of a mobile phone and a toll
free number to offer the health services would add up to
6000 lives saved per year in the studied countries. In terms
for transportation, respondents reported saving an average
of USD 5 per trip by placing calls instead of travelling.
Elaine Weidman Grunewald, Head of Sustainability, Ericsson,
says, "This report sets an important baseline, and
the results of the study show the potential for expansion
and use of mobile technology in other African and developing
countries in rural, remote and poor areas. We believe that
a large majority of the approximately 57 million people
living in rural areas in these four countries could benefit
from mobile communications with reasonable levels of investment
in additional telecommunications infrastructure."
Lars Linden, Head of Ericsson Sub-Saharan Africa, says,
"The tremendous growth of mobile networks and uptake
of mobile subscriptions indicates ground-breaking opportunities
for society taking advantage of the implemented infrastructure.
However, there are still 1 billion people living outside
mobile network coverage and electrical grid in the world.
We have found that the use of renewable energy sources combined
with customized applications presents a sustainable business
opportunity for operators, at the same time supporting individuals
to a better quality of life. Ericsson is committed to supporting
this need"
The same opportunity for society and operators can be seen
in other countries. In India mobile phone use is a large
driver of income growth. Rural Indian mobile phone users
most sought after services are: agricultural information
(40%), entertainment services (16%) such as music, and financial
services (8%) such as mobile remittance and money. Health
applications were ranked as 5th in importance, according
to the report.
"The mobile phone is the most powerful technology
for ending poverty in the world today," said Professor
Jeffrey Sachs, Director of Columbia University's Earth Institute.
"With the spread of 3G and soon 4G technology, even
the most remote schools in the poorest parts of the world
can connect to the Internet and share ideas with other classrooms
a continent away. Pastoralists, once isolated, can now quickly
check on local market prices and make important decisions
on whether to bring their herds in from kilometers away
for sale in the local town. And critical health data and
life-saving information can be sent by text messages to
clinics to support rapid diagnoses for patients in remote
villages. The Millennium Villages project is deeply honored
to partner with Ericsson, a remarkable pioneer and leader
in the field of telecommunications and development. With
their bold vision and action, in partnership with rural
communities throughout Africa, poverty is being rolled back
and an era of new prosperity is dawning."
Currently, there are 5 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide.
Out of those, 450 million are in Africa, which represents
43 percent of the African population. In Sub-Saharan Africa,
the penetration is 42 percent, representing 297 million.
It is forecasted that estimated that the mobile penetration
in sub Saharan Africa will increae by 65% in 2013.
