The Scramble for BOP Penetration in Telecommunications

摘要

Gartner predicts worldwide mobile connections will increase by 1.5 billion by 2010, with emerging markets accounting for 87% of that increase. By 2010 developing regions will account for 69% of all the world's phone connections. A telecom scramble to connect the developing world is now in full swing. Yet, despite the benefits of liberalisation and the phenomenal uptake of mobiles, gains in rural telephony in India and Ghana, the countries considered here, have lagged behind the aggregate national figures. Rural risks are even further behind urban than they were before. The challenge in the BOP business case is in bringing telecom services to rural areas, while making access affordable and relevant to the needs of the rural poor. The need for a holistic, convergent approach between government, service providers and other stakeholders, including civil society as well as the poor themselves, is discussed.