The study, undertaken by three academics, examined how mobile phones had 'revolutionised' e-commerce in Senegal, Kenya and South Africa, and the economic impact this has had on the rural populations in the three countries.
It said mobile phones were bringing previously marginalised rural communities in to the mainstream of the economies of the three countries through, among other things, enabling them to conduct business transactions such as banking through the phone.
"Mobile phones are an important ICT tool for development due to their ability to easily leapfrog the infrastructure barriers in remote and rural areas in Africa.
Furthermore, the rapid advancement in the technologies and ease of use, coupled with falling prices in devices, presents the mobile phone as an appropriate and adaptable tool to bridge the digital divide," the study said.
"The scope of applications for development is wide and, as it can reach the majority of people, its impact is enormous. Overall, wireless communication provide the long sought after platform that can make digital data transfer possible in many developing countries," it said.
The study said if the achievements in the three countries could be replicated across Africa, it could lead to rapid, sustained and high economic growth on the continent.
Addis Ababa - Pana 02/02/2010
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