Two-thirds of poor in Lanka own phones

About 40 percent of the population in Sri Lanka (eight million) is classified as the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) folks earning less than two dollars a day. Of these poor, two-thirds (64 percent) of ‘BoP households’ claim ownership of phones (mobile or fixed - or both) which is twice the same rate in India (38 percent), according to a recent Tele-use survey.

Also, among the BoPs, growth in mobile ownership increased by a significant 33 percent in 2008.

The “Teleuse at the bottom of the pyramid - Findings from a six-country study in emerging Asia” survey by LIRNAsia in Colombo also shows that almost one-third (32 percent) of BoPs own mobile phones.

According to it, at least 77 percent of the BoPs have used mobile phones recently.

The survey also shows that more than half (52 percent) of the 77 percent users use mobile phones on a regular basis. Of the 77 percent, more than half (52 percent) use the mobile to send / receive SMSes, but all (100%) of them uses the mobile to make and receive calls.

One fifth (21 percent) used the mobile to play games, and half (50 percent) used it for balance/bill checking. Along with the above uses, 12 percent also used the handset to listen to radio, the survey showed.

The number of BoP ‘mobile owners’ owning more than one SIM card is 16 percent.

Both urban and rural BoPs claim equal (one to one ratio) of ownership of phones.

The most favoured method of mobile top-up method among the BoPs is using top up cards (87 percent), followed by electronic reloads (52 percent).

Only 9 percent used SMS top-ups, the survey showed. The survey excludes the north and the east populations of Sri Lanka.

Courtesy: Asian Tribune