Article
Of the one million people who become new mobile phone subscribers everyday, about 85% live in emerging markets, according to the mobile phone industry body, the GSMA. There is growing evidence that mobile phones are more than a fashion accessory and can transform the lives of the people who are able to access them. The most obvious anecdotal evidence can be seen all over the developing world. From Kampala to Mombasa, handset sellers are plying their trade – some based in small kiosks, others sheltering from the blazing sunshine under large, colourful umbrellas. This BBC article looks at mobile impact in a number of emerging markets.