Low and middle income countries constitute c80% of the world?s population and c90% of the global rural population. For years, their governments have struggled to provide basic services such as banking, education, healthcare and clean drinking water to the poorest people in their societies given the sheer size of the population base and high cost of setting up infrastructure. However, many of these countries are experiencing rapid growth in their mobile ecosystem, with mobile penetration surpassing that of other basic services. Mobile technology is now enabling the penetration of some of these basic facilities in developing countries.
Smartphones went a step further and brought mobile internet to consumers. Now, mobile applications, or apps, have redefined consumer experiences in many aspects of daily life, as well as creating a range of new business opportunities and services. As technology continues to evolve, it will increasingly link the digital and physical worlds.
Three mobile services fostering social inclusion and significant investment opportunities,
Mobile money: helps with money transfer, transaction and micro-loan/ insurance and subsidy disbursement through easy digitisation of money and conversion back to hard currency.
m-Health: improves health awareness, preventive healthcare and provides timely medical attention, even without a visit to a hospital /clinic.
m-Education: provides digital educational content to populations without access to schools or colleges, or to those who have dropped out of education.
