In context of the recent slaughter happening on the 23rd April 2014, with the 3G auctions taking place, it is important to understand fully why this move by the government is so important in the current scenario, with stakes high, not only domestically, but also on the international front.
Research carried out in 2009 called the ‘Economic benefits of 3G for Different Countries Worldwide’ is a comprehensive insight into the health and wealth of 3G adopted by economies world over.
The delay in 3G for so long, can be given a better say with the statistics provided, has resulted in a loss of job creation, international trade, economic growth and Foreign Direct Investment (telecom FDI 2007: $1,824 million and 2011: $79 million).
So, why 3G?
- Free flow of information is paramount to progress
As stated by the Prime Minister himself, his vision for Pakistan, from looking at the global trends, of course, is for a “knowledge economy.” In order to make it happen, one would require the implementation of 3G services.
- Mobile usage in Asian countries will increase, says Google
According to research by Google last year the Asian panda’s not getting enough chutes, because it seems to want more. The mobile usage in Pakistan has increased with an increase in mobile internet being used more and more for information besides desktop. The Charkhor’s coping up actively with the rest of the economies.
- Communication and value-added services
A direct correlation between teledensity and GDP is seen to exist. When more teledensity is achieved, the more people are employed, and therefore, more money is made available for expenditure. This results in an increase of the number of products manufactured in the country with the increase in employment, thus building upon an enhanced economic quality.
The benefits of 3G relate to the extraordinary and limitless services that broadband services provide for its consumers in connecting a person to another, two individual businesses and most importantly people to information.
How many mangoes hanging down this tree?
The statistics in regard to the benefits of 3G are great in number.
A 1% increase in broadband internet will increase the GDP/ capita by 10% USD (Michael Minges, TMG Telecom, and ITU World Telecommunications Database Statistics, 2003, and with every 1% increase in mobile penetration, a 5% increase in GDP. Not limiting to only this, for every $1 million invested (USD), 18 new jobs are created in the economy.
3G services will be cost-effective for the mobile networks, and therefore, for the end user. It is backwards-compatible with legacy networks and provides increased network capacity.
The Sweeter the Mango, the more it Takes From the Sun
3G is characteristically ubiquitous, which is to say it can operate anytime, anywhere and anyplace; personal with a plethora of services to boot MMS, video messaging, post cards, instant messaging with interactive features such as push-to-talk, video telephony and video sharing in vogue. The benefits for the individual are limitless as it makes it a great source for finding out information from email to video-sharing, and with 3G services, it is guaranteed to be at a much faster rate.
Where there exist isolated lands, for example a diversion caused by a physical landscape – which in Thailand’s case was due to the proximity created due to islands – with the help of 3G, they can be connected. Thus, the two clinics located upon the two islands of the country, were thereby conjoined in their operations and made it easier for the medics and patients in providing timely medication reminders.
It Ripens. It Falls.
Prime minister’s vision for the ‘knowledge economy’ is finally taking shape. It stands to only gain not only from what will reach its national exchequer but the various facilities that it will be able to gain from it. These include e-learning, e-government and e-medicine. Local software industry will get further impetus too, and there will be great potential efficiencies from businesses to get blotted out.
References: Tribune & Tech in Asia
