Can mobile technology be a catalyst for inclusive growth?
I have long thought we have much to learn from many different countries, not just in the developing world. This eye-catching is worth monitoring. The introductory article tells us:
In a world with more mobile devices than people, portable technology has the potential to transform lives.
Mobile access to the internet is helping to power social and economic mobility all over the world. In Africa, for instance, mobile internet access is set to grow five-fold in the next five years. The world has already seen the potential of mobile to provide people with access to financial services, a huge growth issue in developing countries where many people don’t have access to banks. One world-renowned success story is Kenyan company M-Pesa, which allows people to transfer cash using their phones – and the model has been swiftly adopted elsewhere. Countries where more than 70% of people can make digital payments see financial inclusion rates of more than 85%, a study by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation found.
But barriers remain to exploiting the full potential of mobile – no matter where in the world you are. High costs and poor education are two of the biggest, according to Eddie Copeland, head of the technology policy unit at UK thinktank Policy Exchange.
Copeland wants politicians and policymakers to tackle these barriers. But just how can we make sure the benefits of mobile technology reach people in even the most deprived and least connected communities?