Mobile phones to surpass human population soon
The number of global mobile subscriptions will soon exceed the human population, according to data released by the World Bank.
InfoDev, the Bank’s technology entrepreneurship and innovation program, notes that there are now more than 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions in the world, 5 billion of which are to be found in the developing world.
The data, collated in the 2012 Information and Communication for Development report, shows that around 75 per cent of the world’s inhabitants now have access to mobile phones.
“The mobile revolution is right at the start of its growth curve: mobile devices are becoming cheaper and more powerful while networks are doubling in bandwidth roughly every 18 months and expanding into rural areas,” said World Bank Sustainable Development vice president Rachel Kyte in a statement sent to newsrooms.
InfoDev cautions that phone utilization, rather than access, will be the determinant for development in an increasingly connected world.
Further, more than 30 billion mobile applications were downloaded in 2011 alone.
Globally, citizens were increasingly using these apps to enhance their lifestyles while governments were using them to improve service delivery.
“Mobile communications offer major opportunities to advance human and economic development—from providing basic access to health information to making cash payments, spurring job creation and stimulating citizen involvement in democratic processes,” said Ms Kyte.
She challenged governments, businesses and individuals in the developing world to develop their own locally-relevant mobile applications in order to take advantage of growing development opportunities.
Kenya was highlighted as one of the countries that is leading in the use of mobile for development, largely due to the success of M-PESA . Initiatives such as Akirachix, a forum that trains girls in technology, was also commended for their efforts.
InfoDev, in collaboration with the Government of Finland and Nokia, has established five regional mobile innovation labs (mLabs), including one in Kenya.
Earlier this week, Nairobi’s mLab graduated its first batch of business startups.
