DIRSI is a network of professionals and institutions in Latin America that conducts research on pro-poor ICT policy and regulation. Through mobile price benchmarking studies comparing Latin American countries to OECD countries, DIRSI found that mobile costs in Latin America were much higher as a percentage of income, discouraging mobile use among the poor. DIRSI widely shared these results with policymakers, the private sector, and media. This sparked regulatory inquiries into termination rates, taxes, and number portability, with the goal of putting pressure on governments and industries to address high mobile prices affecting affordability for the poor.

1. When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame: Mobile price benchmarking in Latin America Hernan Galperin Universidad de San Andrés LIRNEasia@5, Sri Lanka, Colombo December 9-11, 2009 Regional Dialogue on Information Society

3. Mobile Opportunities 2.0

4. New ICT indicators

5. Young Researchers grants

6. Training programs

7. Rapid Regulatory ResponseResearch + Capacity-building + Dialogue

8. How our mobile price benchmarking studies sparked regulatory action Despitegrowingpenetration, tariffstructurediscouragesmobile use amongpoor. What we saw International mobileprice benchmarking (including South Asia) andaffordabilitystudies. What we did Wide media diffussion of results (old and new media). What helped us Inquiryintoterminationrates (Peru), taxes (Brazil) and numberportability (Mexico). What happened

9. Brazil, wehave a problem Monthlycost of OECD lowvolumeprepaidmobilebasket (USD, 2Q 2009) Sources: DIRSI, Lirneasia, OECD

10. But wait, it gets worse Monthlycost of OECD lowvolume, prepaidmobilebasket (USD PPP, 2Q 2009) Sources: DIRSI, Lirneasia, OECD

11. And it’snotabout a povertypenaltyforprepaid Monthlycost of OECD lowvolume, prepaid vs. postpaidmobilebasket (USD 2009) Source: DIRSI

12. Butwhataboutaffordability? Monthlycost of OECD lowvolume, prepaidmobilebasket as % of GDP per capita (USD 2009) Sources: DIRSI, Lirneasia, OECD

13. Why I only use my mobile to receive calls… Monthlycost of OECD lowvolume, prepaidmobilebasket as % of GDP per capita and income of poorest 3rddecil (USD 2009) Monthlycost of OECD lowvolume, prepaidmobilebasket as % of GDP per capita and % 3rd incomedecil(USD 2009) 5% affordability threshold Source: DIRSI

14. Conclusions: Whysupply-sideindicators and international benchmarking matter Identifymarketfailures and bottlenecksbymeasuring sector performance. poor. What we do International benchmarking andindicatorsappropriatefortheregion. How we do it Policymakers, private sector, civil society and the media (so otherslisten). Our audience Put to shame, engage in conversation, track results, show progress. Our tactic

15. Hernan Galperinhgalperin@udesa.edu.arMore information:www.dirsi.net Diálogo Regional sobre Sociedad de la Información Horacio Urteaga 694 Jesús María, Lima - PERU Teléfonos: ( 51-1) 3326194 / 4244856 Fax: (51-1) 3326173