Mobile Internet Connection Research Articles

In the Technological Age: The Internet and the Performance of Micro-Enterprises in Togo

Micro-enterprises (MEs) are important players in job creation and global economic development. However, in developing countries, most fail to realise their growth potential due to challenges that include informality and a lack of quality human capital. The internet, by increasing information flows and reducing transaction costs, can help MEs to develop. This study assesses the effect of the internet on MEs’ performance in the service sector in Togo, using a large sample of 23,542 observations from the latest General Census of Businesses (RGE, 2017–2018), and exposes related channels and mechanisms. We find that MEs that adopt and use the internet are more productive than those that do not. This result remains robust to different regression methods such as instrumental variables and treatment-effects estimations. Complementary analyses show the positive effect of internet channels through applications such as e-mail, websites and e-business. We also find evidence that MEs with a Fixed internet connection perform better than those with a Mobile internet connection. Our investigations also yield interesting results regarding Togolese regions, service sub-sectors, managers’ characteristics and MEs’ status. This article thus highlights the need to promote digital development to enhance MEs’ performance in Togo.

Assessing the substitutability of mobile and fixed internet: The impact of 5G services on consumer valuation and price elasticity

In this study, we explore the dynamics of consumer choices in the Polish telecommunications market, focusing on preferences and valuations for home fixed, home mobile, and purely mobile Internet connections. Key attributes such as speed, latency, data limits, and cost are examined. Central to our research is the investigation of how the integration of 5G technology might influence demand elasticity. Using a detailed discrete choice experiment, we apply a mixed logit model with random parameters to analyze stated choice data, enabling us to unravel the complexities of demand elasticity, especially in terms of own and cross-price elasticities. This approach facilitates an assessment of the degree of substitutability between fixed and mobile Internet services.Our findings indicate a moderate substitution effect between fixed and mobile Internet services. Results from a Small but Significant and Non-transitory Increase in Price (SSNIP) test suggest that these markets should continue to be regulated separately, mirroring the distinct regulation observed in fixed and mobile telephony. Furthermore, simulations provide insights into potential future market shifts with the advent of 5G services. This paper contributes significantly to the discourse on fixed-mobile Internet substitution and offers vital insights for defining markets in antitrust discussions, competitive agreements, and potential mergers within the telecom sector.

Exploring the Impact of Online Payment on Consumer Behaviour: A Case Study of Nepal

The emergence of online payment has completely changed how consumers and businesses interact on a global scale. Online payment refers to payment that are made for goods or services that are ordered online or offline and are initiated using internet. Understanding how digital financial services affect consumer decision-making is becoming more and more crucial, especially in developing nations like Nepal. In Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is dedicated to the security and effectiveness of Nepal's National Payments System (NPS) in recognition that payment systems are an essential component of every nation's financial system and are essential for its soundness, as well as for the execution of monetary policy and the growth of capital markets. The rise in e-commerce and mobile commerce activities in recent years can be attributed to the widespread use of mobile devices and internet connectivity. Research has indicated that the incorporation of electronic payment systems might have a noteworthy impact on consumer conduct, providing convenience and effectiveness during transactions (Jakhiya et al., 2020). Given the dynamic nature of Nepal's digital infrastructure, analyzing the differences in the adoption of these technologies and the ensuing shifts in customer behaviour might yield insightful information.

Cognitive issues of mobile map design and use

ABSTRACT Internet-connected mobile devices have changed how people access information. Like other information sources, maps have benefited from and been re-envisioned for mobile devices, and they are used in new contexts. However, these new contexts often generate additional cognitive load. We explored in depth two strategies designers could use to mitigate high cognitive loads associated with mobile map use: offloading cognition and reducing cognitive load by improved design to support the allocation of attention between the map and the environment. In reviewing these strategies, we considered their relevance to several mobile map use cases (navigation, individual and collaborative spatial decision making, information enrichment, and entertainment). Next, we identified recent progress in our understanding of how to measure cognitive load and map use context. Finally, we explored the wider implications of mobile maps for human behaviour and cognition. We identified two important cross-cutting research questions: 1) How can mobile maps be designed to reduce cognitive load by providing what is really needed by users to facilitate their cognitive processes?; 2) How can the intrinsic additional cognitive load created by the characteristics of mobile maps be managed and minimised by supporting the distribution of the user's attention between the map and environment?

Development and Management of E-Commerce Information Systems Using Edge Computing and Neural Networks

E-commerce refers to implementing e-commerce on mobile devices, cell phones, and mobile Internet connections. The fast advancement of mobile electronic gadgets and mobile Internet connections has facilitated the emergence of this new e-commerce market. The e-commerce systems contain several concealed client behavior data and forthcoming growth patterns. Data mining technologies extract valuable data and facilitate the growth of e-commerce. This article focuses on studying mobile e-commerce systems within the framework of edge computing, specifically in the setting of industrial clusters. This study examines the importance and benefits of data mining techniques in implementing e-commerce management platforms using neural networks. It also evaluates the corresponding methods of data mining and predicts purchasing trends. The study has used the benefits of grouping and back propagation neural network approaches in data analytics to categorize goods details, buying tastes, and related data. The advantage of neural networks in processing nonlinear patterns is employed to forecast forthcoming buying power. The findings demonstrate that data analytical methods and neural networks exhibit higher precision in predicting the buying pattern. The correlating factor between actual and projected usage information was 0.98, with the highest relative average inaccuracy of 2.4%. Data mining technologies effectively extract previously unrecognized relevant data and anticipated buying patterns in e-commerce platforms. Neural networks have a solid ability to predict future consumption capacity and consumption behaviors accurately.

Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication

The purpose of this paper is to address the pressing road safety issues that plague our country. Unfortunately, a high number of fatalities result from accidents on the road. To combat this problem, this paper proposes the implementation of a Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication protocol that will allow vehicles to communicate wirelessly with one another while on the road. This protocol will use Radio Frequency (RF) communication, which has a range of 100 to 300 meters depending on the module and antenna utilized. V2V communication is especially crucial in areas with no internet connectivity or Global System for Mobile (GSM)- based communication. It enables vehicles to communicate data such as accidents, vehicles ahead, vehicles coming from opposite lanes, and other warnings. The NRF module is utilized to establish wireless RF communication between vehicles. The NRF modules present in both vehicles communicate with one another and transmit messages over a wireless medium. This type of communication is much more reliable than internet or mobile-based communication. A Node MCU microcontroller integrates all the sensors present, controlling all the functions. This technology plays a vital role in preventing accidents on roads, which remains one of the most significant issues in our country, causing numerous fatalities. Connected vehicles on the roads provide smoother traffic, tackle congestion, and in case of any human error, the vehicle can communicate with other vehicles quickly and wirelessly, cautioning the other driver, thereby avoiding fatalities.

Relevansi Studi Integrasi Islam, Sains, dan Budaya Nusantara dalam Pendidikan Islam di Era Global

Information technology (ICT) from internet-connected mobile phones has changed learning models, culture, social life, imagining the future and political participation. With changes in social attitudes and community psychology, education must experience a revolution that demands new ways of mastering science in learning. Islamic education has so far made changes in models, methods and strategies to develop Islamic education to be modern and adapt to global situations and conditions. And stay within the corridor of educational ideals and goals based on the Quran and Hadith, as well as the goals of national education, the principles and philosophy of the country. Adhering to the principle of keeping good traditions and adopting new and better traditions is a paradigmatic mantra of progress, continuity, openness to innovation to achieve knowledge transfer. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the role of Islamic integration studies, science, and archipelago culture in the global era. This writing uses a literature study approach, using books related to the topic under study as sources and research materials. Integrating Quranic values into the Islamic education system, in the context of paradigm-shifting phenomena and modern digital culture, is an inevitable logical consequence of science and information technology is absolutely necessary. This can be achieved through various approaches such as curriculum innovation, character building, creation of an educational environment and strengthening of human resources and role models.

Online Grocery Shopping: Exploring the Influence of Income, Internet Access, and Food Prices

Online grocery shopping has grown rapidly in recent years. It has been promoted as a way to overcome the systemic inequalities in food access and increase sustainable food practices. A growing body of studies has highlighted the impact of income, food prices, and internet access/connection on shaping people’s behavior in buying groceries online. However, there is a dearth of prior studies that have examined the impact of these three factors at the macro/meso level. Therefore, this paper presents an analysis of these factors from a sample of 16 Russian regions with a combined population size of more than 44 million people. We used a fixed effects linear regression model to analyze panel data on median income, mobile internet connection, food price index, and online grocery sales. Our results show the significant impact of income and imply that while online grocery shopping holds huge promise for overcoming unequal access to food and achieving sustainability, entrenched challenges such as poverty and income inequality might be difficult to shake off.

Assessing the Substitutability of Mobile and Fixed Internet: The Impact of 5G Services on Consumer Valuation and Price Elasticity

In this study, we explore the dynamics of consumer choices in the Polish telecommunications market, focusing on preferences and valuations for home fixed, home mobile, and purely mobile internet connections. Key attributes such as speed, latency, data limits, and cost are examined. Central to our research is the investigation of how the integration of 5G technology might influence demand elasticity. Using a detailed discrete choice experiment, we apply a mixed logit model with random parameters to analyze stated choice data, enabling us to unravel the complexities of demand elasticity, especially in terms of own- and cross-price elasticities. This approach facilitates an assessment of the degree of substitutability between fixed and mobile internet services. Our findings indicate a moderate substitution effect between fixed and mobile internet services. Results from a Small but Significant and Non-transitory Increase in Price (SSNIP) test suggest that these markets should continue to be regulated separately, mirroring the distinct regulation observed in fixed and mobile telephony. Furthermore, simulations provide insights into potential future market shifts with the advent of 5G services. This paper contributes significantly to the discourse on fixed-mobile internet substitution and offers vital insights for defining markets in antitrust discussions, competitive agreements, and potential mergers within the telecom sector.

“Your Protection is in Your Hands Only”: User Awareness and Adoption of Privacy and Security Practices in Five Majority World Countries

Technology companies frequently develop and launch features to protect privacy, reduce user harm, and increase security. But adoption is inconsistent at best. Businesses might increase awareness through prominent placement on user interfaces or in-product promotions, and drive adoption through changes to default user settings, or by guiding users to tutorials that encourage them to engage with a new feature. These solutions can be effective but fail to capture key factors that inform use and adoption – particularly in the majority world. In this study, we conducted qualitative interviews with 24 participants in five majority world countries across three continents: the Philippines, Brazil, India, Egypt, and Nigeria (N = 120). We assess the awareness and use of privacy and security features related to internet usage generally, and internet-connected mobile devices specifically. Participants often cited worries about being victimized by financial scammers, and highlighted how frequent sharing of devices, a common behavior, resulted in consistent concerns about privacy. We identify barriers and concerns around use and adoption for users in these regions and offer a holistic analytical framework that can be leveraged by actors in the space to better understand user behaviors and attitudes, and design accordingly.

Correlation between Financial Performances with the Stock Price in Indonesia Stock Exchange on Telecommunication Industry for 2017-2021 (Case Study: PT Telkom, PT XL Axiata, PT Indosat Ooredoo)

Over the past few decades, telecommunication in Indonesia has experienced enormous growth and development, playing a crucial role in supporting the advancement of society, economic prosperity, and human connectivity. A couple major companies dominate the market including PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia and private firms like PT Indosat Ooredoo and PT XL Axiata. These companies provide a wide range of services, including mobile phone service, fixed-line services, internet connectivity, and digital solutions, adapting to the diverse needs of businesses and individuals across the country. The purpose of this research is to determine how financial ratios affect stock prices on the Indonesian stock exchange. Additionally, this study compares the financial health of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, PT Indosat Ooredoo, and PT XL Axiata based on ratio comparison of Decree No. KEP-100/MBU/2002. The results indicates that PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia has the healthiest financial performance by obtained AA category compared to PT Indosat Ooredoo and PT XL Axiata. This study finds the effect of eight financial ratios on the telecommunication industry for five years period. Based on the multiple linear regression test namely T test, it resulted that total asset turnover and total equity have a positive significant effect on stock price partially with a value less than 0.05. The F tests shows that all independent variables have effect to the stock prices by 80% and the remaining 20% are influenced by models outside this study.

Architecture of a mobile transport route selection system by a team of volunteers in the conditions of the military state

The work is devoted to the issue of designing the architecture of a mobile system for choosing the route of cargo transportation and passenger transportation by a team of volunteers under martial law. The system provides support to the decision-maker -the coordinator of the volunteer team in conditions of information uncertainty and dynamic changes in the external environment. The system allows you to receive and take into account operational information about the state of the route segments, which is provided by experts in the role of volunteers.The architecture of the mobile system for the volunteer team in the conditions of dynamic changes is client-server. The client sends data entered by volunteer experts to the server using a mobile phone or Internet connection. The volunteer team coordinator's mobile device is the server of the volunteer team's mobile decision support system. The server has a three-tier architecture: the presentation tier, the application logic tier, and the data tier. At the program logic level, a decision-making subsystem based on the multi-criteria modified Smart method is implemented. As a backup, data from the database on the volunteer team coordinator's device is uploaded to the database located on a remote web server.Based on the developed architecture, a mobile system for building a recommended route for a team of volunteers was developed in Java in Android Studio. As an application of the developed mobile system, a practical example of determining the best of five existing cargo transportation routes is considered

Internet addiction and loneliness among school-going adolescents in Bangladesh in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from a cross-sectional study

Internet addiction (IA) by children and adolescents is a concern for parents. The intensity of this problem has increased in the context of COVID-19 pandemic across the world. Here we aimed to evaluate internet usage patterns, addiction to internet use, and mental health among Bangladeshi school-going adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted this cross-sectional study among 502 school-going adolescents. Pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect information related to demographics and the internet usage pattern. We assessed the prevalence of IA and loneliness using the internet addiction test (IAT) scale and UCLA-3 loneliness scale. The prevalence of IA and loneliness among Bangladeshi school-going adolescents were 88.25% and 72.51%, respectively. Individuals with English-medium education, higher classes, high economic status, mobile internet connection, online gaming habits, and living without family showed significantly higher levels of IA. Moreover, a high proportion of loneliness was observed among individuals with high financial conditions, mobile internet connection, and who watch movies on the internet. The present study findings suggest a strong association between demographics, internet usage patterns, IA, and the mental health of adolescents. These results would have practical inferences in clinical psychology, psychotherapy, and related fields. Based on this finding, the healthcare authorities and professionals can develop an inclusive interventional approach for adolescents who suffer from IA and mental health disorders.

AN INVESTIGATION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS’ USAGE OF SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING PLATFORMS IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA

Alternative methods for instruction after a pandemic for higher education applied synchronous learning platforms. Graduate students could take classes from any area employing their mobile devices and internet connectivity. The study was to expand technology satisfaction and DeLone and McLean’s model among graduate students employing synchronous learning platforms post COVID-19. Data obtained from a survey and 204 participants of Thai and international students filled the questionnaires. The proposed hypotheses analyzed applying a type of Partial Least Squares. The results denoted that computer self-efficacy, service, information, and system quality significantly and directly influences TAM (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use). In addition, satisfaction was effected by TAM. System quality has higher important in increase satisfaction of synchronous learning platforms in the post COVID-19. The findings will assist universities and stakeholders in service planning use synchronous learning platforms in remote learning. Managerial implications can be discussed. Keywords: Synchronous Learning Platforms, DeLone and McLean Model, Technology Satisfaction Model, Post COVID-19 Era DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.2.30

Business Law Study on Consumer Privacy Protection in The Online Ticketing Service of PT Indonesia Railways

The significant increase in online activities cannot be separated from the many active internet users who use mobile internet connections to carry out their daily life, one of which is for the convenience of making ticket reservations at PT Indonesian Railways (KAI). The reason of this exploration is to figure out research of the business law of consumer privacy in the online ticketing service of PT KAI. Data collection was carried out by means of a literature study of the relationship between laws and regulations in consumer protection and the position of PT KAI as business actors and customers as consumers who submit their personal data privacy. The results of the study indicate a study of business law that concludes the protection of consumer privacy in the online ticketing service of PT KAI, then actually PT KAI has been supervised by several institutions such as the Ministry of Communication and Information with periodic database reports and state formulations with the principles of justice and fairness. In addition, in more detail PT KAI is also bound by the existence of Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions which has provided legal protection for the security of consumer electronic data from PT KAI from illegal access andalso Law Number 27 of 2022 concerning about the consumer privacy protection.

The Instagram Interview: Talking to People About Travel Experiences Across Online and Offline Spaces

Studying visitors’ experiences with cultural sites has been complicated by the availability of internet-connected mobile devices. Simply observing visitors on site is no longer sufficient since they can interact with a site offline and online: before, during, and after their visit. Furthermore, cultural sites are as much sites of cultural heritage as they are sites of tourism. To study such complex experiences, new approaches to the study of human interactions with cultural sites must be developed; these methods must account for the fact that the offline and online realms can no longer be considered separate. In this article, I introduce the method of the Instagram interview as applied in an Instagram ethnography, contextualized by my project on visitor experiences of a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, where I interviewed visitors after their visit. The Instagram interview helps study a dispersed population that engages, through Instagram posts, with one physical location and its narratives, allowing conclusions about visitor experiences of the site and the role of Instagram in this context. When constructing the Instagram interview in a manner that corresponds to platform conventions, it produces personal, in-depth narratives about the interviewee’s experiences. Conceptualizing the experience of a memorial as expanding beyond the space and time of the site visit, the Instagram interview is suitable for holistically studying visitors’ complex experiences: before, during, and after their visits, as it recognizes that offline and online interactions with the site are part of the same experience.

Developing Mobile Applications with Augmented Reality and 3D Photogrammetry for Visualisation of Cold-Water Coral Reefs and Deep-Water Habitats

Cold-water coral (CWC) reefs are considered “hotspots” of biodiversity in deep-sea environments. Like tropical coral reefs, these habitats are subject to climate and anthropogenic threats. The use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVSs) in combination with three-dimensional (3D) modelling and augmented reality (AR) has enabled detailed visualisation of terrestrial and marine environments while promoting data accessibility and scientific outreach. However, remote environments such as CWC reefs still present challenges with data acquisition, which impacts the further understanding of these environments. This study aims to develop a mobile application using structure-from-motion (SfM) 3D photogrammetric data and AR for the visualisation of CWC reefs. The mobile application was developed to display 3D models of CWC reefs from the Piddington Mound area, southwest of Ireland. The 3D models were tested at different resolutions to analyse the visualisation experience and trade-off between resolution and application size. The results from the 3D reconstructions with higher resolution indicate that the combination of SfM, AR, and mobile phones is a promising tool for raising awareness and literacy regarding CWC and deep-water habitats. This study is the first of its kind to showcase CWC habitats accessible to anyone, anywhere with a mobile phone and internet connectivity.

Students’ Perception and Motivation toward Online Learning at English Language Education in Pekanbaru

During Covid-19, the process of teaching and learning in school and university changed from offline learning into online learning. This research aims to know the students' perception and motivation towards online learning in the sixth semester of English Language Education of FKIP UIR. This research used the descriptive qualitative method.The sample was 33 of class 6A at English Language Education of FKIP UIR. Sampling was done by used Purposive sampling. The instrument of the research is questionnaires and interviews. To collect the data, the researcher used Google Form and Google Meet. The total of questions given to respondents was 48 statements using the Likert Scale. Meanwhile, the interview used open-ended questions consist of 9 questions. This study found that students have a positive perception on online learning. In infrastructure facilities, it is already available of mobile devices and internet connections. In technology, students can maximize the use of the technology. Meanwhile, student interaction with teachers and students is still lacking, so offline learning is necessary. Then, the researcher found that students have high motivation. Students' attention gets the highest percentage of 57.6%, students in building curiosity, interactive and exciting learning. In relevance, students feel that online learning is suitable to be applied in the pandemic conditions. In addition, in students' confidence, most of students are motivated to study outside the class that increases their knowledge. The last, in students' satisfaction, 48,5% of students agree that they satisfied with the implementation of online learning at the sixth semester of English Language of Education.

Crane Cloud: A resilient multi-cloud service abstraction layer for resource-constrained settings

Developers and users situated in low-resource settings are faced with unique contextual and infrastructure challenges when accessing and consuming cloud-based services. In low-resource settings, access to cloud services and platforms is usually characterized by low-end computing devices and often unreliable and slow mobile broadband Internet connections. In this paper, we discuss key challenges for developing for and accessing cloud services in resource constrained settings, namely, (1) Frequent Internet partitions and bandwidth constraints, (2) Data jurisdiction restrictions, (3) Vendor lock-in, and (4) Poor quality of service. Inspired by these challenges, we propose a set of important design considerations and properties for a resilient multi-cloud service layer, that includes: (1) Containerization and orchestration of applications, (2) Application placement and replication, (3) Portability and multi-cloud migration, (4) Resilience to network partitions and bandwidth constraints, (5) Automated service discovery and load balancing, (6) Localized image registry, and (7) Support for platform monitoring and management. We present an implementation and validation case study, Crane Cloud, an open source multi-cloud service abstraction layer built on-top of Kubernetes that is designed with inherent support for resilience to network partitions, microservice orchestration (deployment, scaling and management of containerized applications), a localized image registry, support for migration of services between private and public clouds to avoid vendor lock-in issues and platform monitoring. We evaluate the performance and user experience of Crane Cloud by implementing and deploying a computational and bandwidth intensive machine learning system. The results show lower response times of the system on Crane Cloud compared with hosting on other public clouds. The Crane Cloud platform is serving as a cloud-service for students and developers in low-resource settings and also as an education platform for cloud computing.

Pravo konkurencije u eri interneta inteligentnih uređaja

The Internet of Things (IoT) brings mobile internet connectivity to many different sectors of the economy. 5G standard is expected to play a key role in fostering seamless connectivity between devices. However, it also requires licensing patents essential for 5G standards to a diverse group of companies. How to effectively license essential patents in IoT has been the central question in recent policy debates before the European Commission. Competition law has often been invoked as a solution to either directly regulate certain licensing practices or to take a step back and enable the industry to collectively agree on certain licensing solutions. The article analyses three situations where the role of competition law was discussed: i) refusal to license patents to different levels of the production chain; ii) collective price-setting of a standard and iii) collective licensing of patents. The article examines each situation and discusses the appropriate role of competition law in fostering efficient licensing of essential patents in the IoT.