Mobile Telephone Ownership and Usage among Urban Residents in Nigeria

Abstract

Since the launch of GSM in 2001 in Nigeria, mobile telephony has rapidly become the most popular method of voice communication in Nigeria. Statistics from Nigerian Communications Commission show that there are more than 8 million subscribers as at mid 2011. Since communication is spatial in nature, there is a view That the advent of GSMs may influence geographic phenomenon, particularly human spatial interaction and location decision in urban settings. This study investigates mobile telephone ownership and usage among urban residents in Nigeria using Ibadan North Local Government Area as the study area. Random sampling was used To select two hundred and twenty two (222) respondents. The study found that there is a significant relationship between Telephone ownership and socio-economic characteristics of urban residents (r = 0.54 at P < 0.05). Household size. income and job type was found to be the must important variables influencing telephone ownership. Results of analysis showed that The most important use of mobile telephone is for business, interpersonal communication and social connectivity. Study also suggests urban Trip scheduling, rescheduling and elimination via The use of mobile Telephone. The study advocates the optimum use of mobile telephone in urban areas to reduce frequency of trips and to serve as Traffic reduction strategy.