So far India has about 290 – 300 Million Mobile Phone subscribers. While the number is definitely large, it has by no means reached its true potential, We are a nation of 1 Billion Plus where at least 750 Million people can have Mobile phones.While handset providers have done a lot to reduce the prices of mobile phones, most of our population still remains out of reach due to price and knowledge barriers.
The union labor minister, Oscar Fernandes, has made an announcement to launch low-priced phones having digital technologies. The announcement is targeted mainly at farmers – the hope is that farmers will be able to use mobile phones for productivity gains.
Mr. Fernandes also mentioned that the state plus privately owned communication companies have to step forward to introduce cell phones, which would cost just Rs.500.
The minister made this declaration while lecturing at an Assocham conference in New Delhi.
With mobile phones, farmers can possibly by pass the distribution agents who eat up the rightful revenues of farmers.
The minister also announced that farmers would also be able to access the most up-to-date trends in all facets of farming, as well as sowing of seeds, harvesting, use of fertilizers, and so on.
With such a scheme, one assumes that India will possibly be able to reach its figure of 500 million subscribers before 2011. It is also a great example of the efficiency increases that can be achieved by technology.