CAN THE CELLPHONE HELP END GLOBAL POVERTY?
CAN THE CELLPHONE HELP END GLOBAL POVERTY? That is the title of an article by Sara Corbett in the New York Times Magazine for April 13. I had not realized how important cellphones are already in poorer countries. The article cites an estimate that about 68 % of the mobile phone subscriptions in the world are in developing countries. It points out that cellphones eliminate the capital and maintenance costs of fixed-line phone systems. More and more countries are abandoning government-run telecom systems for privately run cellphone facilities. Access to reliable electricity is still a major problem. Units powered by solar power, diesel and battery are being used in remote areas.