25 Crore Women Have Their Own Mobile Phones In Low And Middle Income Countries Including India Since 2014

Technology is always a luxury for middle and low-income people everywhere in the world. But technology is always evolving and one of the benefits of technology development is making it cheaper and people of all classes can access it. Mobile phones are almost one of the increasingly popular devices among people with low-income frames in recent times.

According to the Mobile Gender Gap Report 2019 study by GSMA, up to 80% of women in countries in low-income and middle-income countries own mobile phones. People in these areas often use mobile phones as a means of accessing the Internet instead of using computers, 48% of women get online via mobile phones.

Looking back at the Indian women in low-income households, they are not allowed to attend school fully and have no chance to go to work, etc. The mobile phone can give them new opportunities and more control over their lives than ever before.

Although the internet connection system has improved and people all over the country have been able to access it online, the distinction of mobile phone ownership in gender still exists and needs to be expelled. The number of women who own mobile phones is 10% lower than men and 23% less internet access. Not only in India, but the number of women in South Asia owning mobile phones is also 28% less than men. Besides, women allowed to access the internet lost to men by 58%.

GSMA's Director General Mats Granryd said that the issue of women possessing mobile devices has improved somewhat but compared to the development of technology and the connection of the world, women are still left behind. Mobile connectivity is increasingly popular and everyone in the world is approached but it spreads in an unbalanced way.

It is difficult for women to have mobile phones and access to the internet because of barriers in economy and culture such as poor education, perceived lack of relevance, lack of digital skills, as well as security and safety.

It is not only those who are concerned about gender discrimination in the society that are expecting this situation will improve, mobile phone vendors and telecommunication companies also hope that women will use the phone. Because this will significantly increase their sales. If the gender gap is narrowed, then in the next 5 years, low and middle-income countries will earn $140 billion in the mobile industry. The most important thing today is who can help these women understand their rights.