Mobile Telephony as Catalyst of Social Change-Emerging Trends and Implication in India

Abstract

The new information and communication technologies have transformed social life more than any of the previous waves of technology innovations that amazed humanity. Mobile telephone as the most ubiquitous of this revolution has become so important a tool for the modern human being that he frightens to think life without it. With a mobile phone subscriber base of 563.73 million, India has already emerged as the second largest wireless connection network in the world only next to China, and efforts are being made from both governmental and non-governmental platforms to further expand the mobile communication infrastructure in the country. The widespread access to mobile phones and the expanding value added services they provide has changed the dynamics of social interaction to the extent of exerting a driving influence on the information economy in India. With rapid mobile phone penetration even in the remotest parts of the country and growing network coverage, mobile phone is playing crucial role in finding solutions to a host of social problems and helping improve lives in underdeveloped parts of the country. Be it, connecting families separated by disaster, help in emergency relief work, empower farmers to ask for better prices in markets, mobile technology has emerged as the catalyst. With very high potential to drive change in the areas of health, humanitarian assistance, and environmental conservation, mobile telephone has emerged as a powerful tool for positive social change.