'1.7 Bn Women In Emerging Economies Do Not Own Mobile Phones'

BENGALURU: Over 1.7 billion females in low-and middle-income countries do not own mobile phones and women on average are 14 percent less likely to own a mobile phone than men -- creating a gender gap of 200 million fewer women than men owning mobile phones, a report said here on Tuesday.

"In particular, women in South Asia are 38 percent less likely to own a phone than men, highlighting that the gender gap in mobile phone ownership is wider in certain parts of the world,” the report 'Bridging the Gender Gap: Mobile Access and Usage in Low- and Middle-income Countries' released by GSM Association said.

"The ubiquity and affordability of mobile presents us with the unprecedented opportunity to improve and enhance social and economic development; however, as our study shows, women in particular tend to be left behind as owners of mobile phones and as consumers of mobile services," Anne Bouverot, director general of GSMA said.

"By addressing the gender gap in mobile phone ownership and use, we will deliver substantial benefits for women, the mobile industry and the broader economy," she added.

The report said the top five barriers to women owning and using mobile phones from a customer perspective are cost; network quality and coverage; security and harassment via mobile; operator or agent trust; and technical literacy and confidence issues.
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