How can mobile phones advance the socio-economic development of women? This report highlights the gender gap in mobile phone ownership in low and middle-income countries. Closing this gap would bring the benefits of mobile phones to 300 million women and represent a 13 billion US dollar opportunity for mobile operators. Mobile phone ownership offers women opportunities such as improved access to education, health, business and employment. Empowering women with mobile phones requires the involvement of the private, non-profit and public sectors.
Mobile phones connect people and provide them with information that is useful in their daily lives. Given the important role that women and mobile phones play in socio-economic development, both society and industry could benefit from extending the benefits of mobile phone ownership to women.
Mobile phone ownership in low and middle-income countries has risen dramatically in the past several years. But a woman is still 21 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone than a man. Women in rural areas and from lower income brackets stand to benefit the most from closing the gender gap. Different demographic groups have different needs that can be addressed with a mobile phone. Further findings are that:
- Women surveyed in low and middle-income countries felt that mobile phones helped them to lead more independent, secure, connected and productive lives.
- Women represent nearly two-thirds of the untapped market for mobile phones. Incremental revenue opportunities for mobile operators range from 640 million US dollars in Latin America to 4 billion US dollars in East Asia.
- Five factors influence whether or not a woman owns a mobile phone in low to middle-income countries: household income, urban/rural location, age, occupation, and education level.
- Reasons cited for not owning a mobile phone included: cost of handset and services, a lack of need for a mobile phone and fear of not being able to master the technology. Cultural issues were also a factor.
Empowering women with mobile phones requires the involvement of the private, non-profit and public sectors. All stakeholders need to collaborate for maximum benefit. The following steps should be taken:
- The development community should leverage alternative financing mechanisms and create innovative programmes to increase mobile phone uptake amongst women. They should help to identify culturally relevant and acceptable ways of promoting mobile phone ownership among women.
- Policymakers should shift the tax burden away from the poorest in society, of which women are the majority. They should create incentives for the development of mobile services that benefit women.
- The mobile telecommunications industry should understand and operate within the local culture. Segmentation strategies and marketing should specifically address women. Mobile phones should be positioned as a life-enhancing and income-generating tool.
