Mobile Industry Extends Reach of Healthcare Programs in Emerging Markets

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts -

Mobile technology’s low cost and ease of use make it ideal for improving the delivery of healthcare, education, and other social services in emerging markets, opening up opportunities for mobile operators and vendors, according to a new report by Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com), the telecom research arm of Light Reading Communications Network (www.lightreading.com).

Healthcare Programs in Emerging Markets: Opportunities for Mobile Operators looks at the role of mobile network operators and vendors in social programs, in particular healthcare, referencing many examples throughout, mostly from Africa and India. Going into more detail, case studies examine four of the most prominent and successful programs — in Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and India, all focusing on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This 12-page report highlights the benefits to operators and vendors of becoming involved in such projects. These include the overall industry growth resulting from governments and NGOs investing in various initiatives as well as the opportunity to advance new services as users grow increasingly aware of applications beyond voice. Download an excerpt of this report here: www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=5&sc=PR100609_INAME1.8

“Mobile technology is ideal for raising awareness for a variety of social programs in emerging markets, most notably health and education, whereas PCs and other alternatives in comparison appear limited, costly, and complicated,” says Jan ten Sythoff, Research Manager and author of the report.

Africa and India are particularly prominent in the use of mobile technology for such causes, and there are encouraging results that suggest that these programs are having a substantial impact. “One example is Project Masiluleke in South Africa, which is raising awareness of HIV/AIDS and reminds sufferers of treatment sessions via SMS alerts. This program is to be introduced in other countries, and will also be replicated for other diseases, such as tuberculosis,” Sythoff says.

The supporting roles of mobile operators and vendors enabling various applications are also creating new opportunities. “We’ve identified a variety of social programs that leverage mobile technologies, including a number in Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, and India,” Sythoff comments. “Mobile operators and vendors can participate in these programs and promote new applications to enter the healthcare and education markets,” he adds. “Also, with the population perceiving the impact of mobile technologies across more aspects of their daily lives, there is greater incentive for governments to promote the development of the overall telecom industry.”

Healthcare Programs in Emerging Markets: Opportunities for Mobile Operators is part of Pyramid Research’s Africa and the Middle East Telecom Insider report series. This report is priced at US$595 and can be purchased online here: www.pyramidresearch.com/store/ins_ame_091002.htm?sc=PR100609_INAME1.8 or by contacting Amalia Vega via email at avega@pyr.com.

For more information about Pyramid Research’s products and services, please visit www.pyr.com or contact us at info@pyr.com.

About Pyramid Research

Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com) offers practical solutions to the complex demands our clients face in the telecommunications, media and technology industries. Our analysis is uniquely positioned at the intersection of emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models, powered by the bottom-up methodology of our market forecasts for over 100 countries — a distinction that has remained unmatched for more than 25 years. As the telecom research arm of the Light Reading Communications Network, Pyramid Research works with Heavy Reading, providing the communications industry’s most comprehensive market data, trusted research and insightful technology analysis.

About Light Reading

Founded in 2000, Light Reading (www.lightreading.com) is the leading online media, research, and focused event company serving the US$3 trillion worldwide communications market. Lightreading.com is the ultimate source for technology and financial analysis of the communications industry, leading the media sector in terms of traffic, content, and reputation. Light Reading’s research arms, Heavy Reading and Pyramid Research, provide the most comprehensive communications research, market data, and technology analysis in close to 100 markets around the world. Light Reading produces nearly 20 targeted communications events including TelcoTV, Ethernet Expo New York and Ethernet Expo London, The Tower Summit @ CTIA, and Optical Expo, as well as focused one-day events tailored for cable, mobile, and wireline executives. Light Reading was acquired by United Business Media in August 2005 and operates as a unit of TechWeb.

About TechWeb

TechWeb (techweb.com/aboutus), the global leader in business technology media, is an innovative business focused on serving the needs of technology decision-makers and marketers worldwide. TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed media brands in the business technology market. Today, more than 13.3 million* business technology professionals actively engage in our communities created around our global face-to-face events, Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; online resources such as the TechWeb Network, Light Reading, Intelligent Enterprise, InformationWeek.com, bMighty.com, and The Financial Technology Network; and the market leading, award-winning InformationWeek, TechNet Magazine, MSDN Magazine, and Wall Street & Technology magazines. TechWeb also provides end-to-end services including next-generation performance marketing, integrated media, research, and analyst services. TechWeb is a division of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than US$2.5 billion.

*13.3 million business decision-makers: based on number of monthly connections

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM’s businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities — from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists — with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.unitedbusinessmedia.com.

Press contact: Jennifer Baker +1-617-871-1910 jbaker@pyr.com

Source: Pyramid Research

Jennifer Baker, +1-617-871-1910, jbaker at pyr.com