1. Exploring the Developmental Impact of Mobile Phones
The uptake of mobile phones in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) has confounded the world.
It seems that mobile phone growth and usage is the most positive socio-economic
development happening in SSA. What is also phenomenal about this is that when
compared to the Internet, once heralded as the digital opportunity to usher Africa
into the new information age, the mobile phone has become the bridge to the digital
divide.
Mobile phones are seen in those settings as more than just communication devices.
They are bringing people together – the communication networks are having far
more developmental impact than hitherto expected. They are playing a crucial role in
every socio-economic sector and are positively changing the way people
communicate and do business.
The mobile in SSA is a developmental tool even though it is facilitating basic
communication through texting and calling. The dynamism is that the mobile has
equipped millions of people with the means to move out of isolation and be part of a
world of digital communication.
It seems that key socio-economic development activities are being affected by the
presence of mobile devices in those settings. The mobile in SSA should be seen as an
essential tool for development. The functionalities on future phones designed and
destined for that market should be deliberately fashioned to deliver the most
appropriate and effective development impact.
Mobile users in SSA have unique socio-economic needs - the design of mobile
phones and services for those communities should take precedence over just making
a profit. The popularity of mobile phones in Africa should be responded to with tailor
made mobile phones and services that will increase the development impact of the
device in those settings. It is already playing that role. The underlying design ideal
would be to design phones and services that meet people’s needs and wants.
The presence of a conducive enabling environment will pave the way for handset
makers, operators, content providers and other key players in the sector to harness
the mobile device, not just as a communication tool, but also as a contributory
developmental enabler.
When used with other media technologies like the Internet, radio, TV and
newspapers, the mobile indeed could catalyze new communication and information
sharing patterns that could have a far more reaching impact in those settings where
there are huge communication and information gaps.
Mobiles can be used to address some key developmental problems and are indeed
key enabling tools in the fight against poverty and other seemingly never-ending
socio-economic problems that are ubiquitous throughout SSA.
Batsirai Chivhanga
Multimedia Producer