dijous, 30 d’abril del 2009

ICT4D - some figures

Experience in developing countries has shown that better access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phones and computers has improved health and livelihood opportunities for poor and marginalised people.

In the last five years, the number of fixed phone lines has increased by 18% in comparison with a 275% increase in the number of mobile subscriptions. Can more be made of this technology to improve development?
Fishermen in southern India, for example, can call several ports and dealers while still at sea and find the best prices before deciding on a market.
And in Kenya, the mobile provider Safaricom has developed an innovative system that allows customers to transfer money using a mobile phone as an answer to the country's poor banking infrastructure.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition