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12th September - Nearly half a million people, described
by the UN as "the poorest of the poor", will soon
be able to make mobile calls.
As part of a UN programme to tackle poverty in rural Africa,
79 villages across 10 African countries will be hooked up
to cellular networks.
It is hoped that the connections will help improve healthcare
and education, as well as boosting the local economy.
A 2005 study showed that an increase of 10 mobile phones
per 100 people could increase GDP growth by 0.6%.
"This is a technology that is remarkably empowering,
especially for remote areas where the ability to communicate
is vital," Dr Jeffery Sachs, Special Advisor to the United
Nations Secretary-General, told the BBC News website.
Farming tool
The plan to extend the mobile network to people that would
not normally be considered a priority for mobile phone firms
is part of the UN Millennium Villages programme.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Earth Institute
at New York's Columbia University and the UN, started in 2004.
The first Millennium Village was started in Sauri, Kenya,
and there are now 79 in countries including Mali, Uganda,
Senegal and Ethiopia.
According to the UN, the Millennium Villages are "located
in hunger 'hotspots' where chronic hunger is widespread, often
accompanied by a high prevalence of disease, lack of access
to medical care, and a severe lack of infrastructure".
The programme aims to tackle all of these areas, rather than
focusing on a specific problem.
"It is a holistic approach rather than a magic bullet
approach" said Dr Sachs.
He said building the mobile infrastructure would allow for
improvements to healthcare, such as an emergency phone number.
"We also see this as crucial for education where the
kids will not only learn IT skills but will also have access
to a world of information," he said.
He said schemes could also be used to trade agricultural
information as well as allowing people to have bank accounts
and make "micro payments" for goods such as fertilizers.
Data rate
Ken Banks of Kiwanja.net, an organisation that helps promote
innovative uses for mobiles in developing countries, said
that the arrival of mobiles would also spur new businesses.
"From day one, taxi drivers will be using mobiles to get
business, as will casual labourers," he said. "Other
people will then begin to source the information they need.
"Past lessons have shown that many Africans are entrepreneurial
enough to develop their own services and solutions once a
technology arrives."
The infrastructure, as well as solar chargers for phones,
have been provided free of charge by mobile firm Ericsson,
but services will be run and charged for by local operators.
In most countries, Ericsson will install a 2G network, able
to handle voice calls as well as data downloads of around
200 kilobits per second (kbps).
"That is a fairly good broadband capable network,"
said Carl-Henric Svanberg, CEO of Ericsson. "From a laptop
you will be able to surf the internet."
Mr Svanberg said the firm would also install 3G networks
in those countries where "regulations and spectrum"
allowed.
But Mr Banks believes that initially there will be very little
use of mobile internet and data services.
"Voice is still the killer app in many developing countries,"
he said. "Data is going to be playing catch-up for a
long time to come."
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