Mobile telephony especially in Africa has moved from the mere provision of communication to creating new and bigger possibilities in markets and provision of services. From a communication device, it has transformed to a remote control of people’s lives, with big impacts on the quality of life especially in low-income countries. In Kenya for example, mobile phones have greatly changed the way people handle money through the very successful mobile banking service, M-Pesa.
Beyond just banking, an infographic below from USAID details how mobile telephony has managed to empower the poor. It has transformed the way they interact with their government, how they access basic health, education, business and financial services.
Infographic source: USAID