Economically, it is widely accepted that technology is the key driver of economic growth. Consequently, technological progress allows for increased efficiency in production, increasing the volume and quality of goods and services, which boosts prosperity. Unfortunately, there are challenges to adopting the use of new technology. These include the cost of hardware, complexity, and language barriers, and in less developed countries, the lack of electricity, computers, and internet access. However, developing countries are overcoming these hurdles with mobile connectivity, particularly with remote access to the cloud.
Traditional IT Infrastructure Is Not Suitable In Developing Countries
So, considering the problems associated with implementation, using traditional IT infrastructure is not really an option in developing countries. These problems include:
-
Higher infrastructure and hardware management costs
-
Outdated technology with no trade-in value
-
Equipment add-ons and upgrades required
-
No guarantee of accessibility from remote locations, including remote cloud access
What Are The Benefits Of Cloud Computing & Remote Cloud Access?
The obvious way forward is Cloud Computing. Benefits include:
-
24/7 Accessibility – Connect from any device and access information.
-
Scalability – Increase or decrease resources on-demand.
-
Unlimited Storage – No need to buy extra hard drives.
-
No Infrastructure Cost – Applications and files managed in remote locations.
-
Backup Options – Cloud technologies allow you to set multiple backup options on various servers.
Developing Countries Have Remote Cloud Access Without WiFi
Of course, Cloud computing will only work where there is access to the internet. This is not only the most significant advantage but also its greatest challenge.
According to the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU), approximately 4.9 billion people – or 63 per cent of the world’s population – were using the internet in 2021. Additionally, of the 2.9 billion people offline, 96 per cent live in developing countries.
In less developed regions, mobile technologies have become an opportunity to boost economies, health, education and technology rather than rely on traditional infrastructure for internet access.
According to GSMA real-time intelligence data, there are now over 10.57 billion mobile connections worldwide, which surpasses the current world population of 7.93 billion!
In 2019, mobile broadband signals covered 93% of the global population.
Taking sub-Saharan Africa as an example, 3G coverage expanded to 75% compared to 63% in 2017, while 4G doubled to nearly 50% compared to 2017.
Smartphones are still in the minority, so services often use basic SMS messaging technologies. For example, the introduction of M-PESA in Kenya, which was created to reach shops in the country’s remotest corner. Today there is practically no village in Kenya that does not have some commerce connected to the system. Transactions are carried out by SMS, which allows it to be accessed with the most basic of telephones.
The Future Of Mobile Connectivity
As mobile technology becomes more sophisticated, robust and prevalent, the positive impacts of mobile connectivity in developing countries will grow exponentially. In short, the device has proven efficient yet an inexpensive solution to many day-to-day problems. From mobile banking to health care, the mobile has left an incredible footprint on the world despite its relatively short existence.
