"The impact that mobile phones have on the developing world is as revolutionary as roads, railways and ports, increasing social cohesion and releasing the entrepreneurial spirit that stimulates trade and creates jobs"
Professor Leonard Waverman
London Business School
February 2007

"With more than 3 billion subscribers around the world, the mobile phone plays a key role as one of the most powerful tools to fight poverty, particularly for poor communities in remote areas of the world. Mobile technology … will be an engine for empowerment and a driving force for economic growth."
Professor Jeffrey Sachs
Columbia University, Earth Institute
October 2007

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2000 and have become a framework for meeting the needs of the world's poor. The target date for their achievement is 2015 and while there have been some gains, much remains to be done. Ericsson supports the MDGs and we have launched a number of initiatives during 2007 which illustrate how mobile technology can play a key role in realizing the goals.

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

Telecom addresses human needs and can support people's livelihoods, healthcare services, personal safety, access to a wide range of information from educational information through to warnings of natural disasters and relief, as well as bringing entertainment and personal interaction. This, coupled with the fact that many of the fastest growing future markets are based in areas of the world suffering from high rates of poverty, points to a situation where mobile technology can play an important role in supporting the aims of the MDGs.

In economic terms telecom, in emerging markets around the world, can boost the GDP growth rate - a 10 percent mobile penetration increase can translate to an increase in GDP growth rate of 0.6 percent to 1.2 percent (research by London Business School and GSM Association).

Essentially mobile technology is a key infrastructure which can deliver a number of services reliably and cost effectively, bringing a closing of the digital divide and a rise in the standard of living.

Enterprise - business to business trading can benefit from up to date market pricing and volume information, workers can communicate about employment opportunities, logistics and transportation can be streamlined, a virtual market place introduced and weather and environmental news used. Many of these things are taken for granted in business activities in countries with developed communications networks, but they make a significant difference to businesses which have historically operated without them.

Weather and travel warning systems - disaster alerts, efficient travel routes and data collection can all be done using telecom to build societal infrastructure around the world.

Healthcare - Ericsson has been working on a number of initiatives to demonstrate the use of telecom in healthcare provision. Mobile technology can be used to collect demographic information and keep records of disease to improve future treatments. Patients can communicate with health clinics to receive treatment and be given information to assist them in understanding health issues, disease prevention and medication. Emergency care can also be improved.

Safety and security - telecommunications also delivers services to reduce security risks, respond to emergencies and safeguard personal security. You can read about our initiative on Lake Victoria in Africa here.

Education - information sharing using mobile networks and access to the internet via the mobile phone, known as m-learning (mobile learning) brings education to geographical areas where people do not have access to teachers, schools and educational resources.

We conduct research into the factors which encourage and limit the take up of telecom in emerging and developed country markets. The key issues we have identified include:

Affordability - especially for people with limited funds. We strive to provide cost effective solutions.

Enabling environment - where families, schools, government and communities encourage the use of mobile communication and the interent. Relevance of content - local information that impacts people's daily lives encourage the take up of technology Literacy - A lack of reading skills among sections of society with low income can prevent them from using telecom. For example in Bangladesh the literacy rate is 43 percent.

Mindset - a lack of awareness of the benefits and relevance to daily life can prevent uptake.

Culture and societal constraints - in some cultures there are traditions and norms that might restrict access to technology such as the position of women in some societies. Lack of infrastructure - a lack of electricity supply, internet connections and facilities can prevent access to technology.

At Ericsson we try to address all these factors and work with customers and other stakeholders to maximise the possible uptake of telecomm in society.