The use of mobile phones by microentrepreneurs in Kigali, Rwanda

[Knowledge base]

Paper: The use of mobile phones by microentrepreneurs in Kigali, Rwanda: Changes to social and business networks

Author: Jonathan Donner, The Earth Institute at Columbia University

Dates: 7-8 October 2005

A survey of mobile phone users in Kigali, Rwanda suggests that mobiles are allowing microentrepreneurs in the developing world to develop new business contacts. The results detail the impact of mobile ownership on the networks of microentrepreneurs in low teledensity areas, focusing on the evolving mix of business and personal calls made by users. The study differentiates between contacts which users amplify through mobile ownership (friends and family ties) and those which are enabled by mobile ownership (new business ties).