Enabling Mobile Communications for the Needy : An International Comparison of Solutions and Impacts (With Focus on Europe)

This keynote presentation from the COST605 WG2 public workshop on "Mobile communications for the poor and needy", Lisbon, November 2008, gives definitions and an overview about how mobile communications and appropriate tariffs can help this disfavoured group. Statistical data are provided mostly from European countries. The importance of the group is also given for suppliers, operators, social authorities and others. The policy debate is summarized comparing new policies to the old universal service obligation. A new benchmarking method is proposed based on the purchasing power parity disposable income measured in mobile communications minutes. A second method is proposed based on the residual disposable income for communications. Several solutions and policies based on active solidarities are proposed