Page 143 - Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2016

5 M-services and applications: Perspectives on

regulatory measures to foster diffusion and
access

Author: Mercy Wanjau, Assistant Director, Communications Authority of Kenya

“The world was so recent that many things 5.2.1 What are m-services and applications?
lacked names, and in order to indicate them it was
necessary to point.” In beginning this discussion, it is important
to mention that m-services and apps (i.e.,
Gabriel Garcia Marquez applications) are different. Apps ride on networks
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One Hundred Years of Solitude that also deliver m-services (mobile services).
Indeed, both can thrive on similar regulatory
approaches, to some extent. However, at some
5.1 Introduction point they call for differentiated regulatory
intervention, in order to establish an enabling
We are living in the midst of a social, economic, environment. Given this context, this chapter
and technological revolution. How we will illustrate regulatory strategies to promote
communicate, learn, socialize and conduct the diffusion of both m-services and applications.
business has moved beyond the narrow confines Particular references will be made to m-payments
of language and geographical proximity and onto and m-health, to highlight specific issues.
the Internet. The Internet has, in turn, moved
into our phones, laptops, homes and cities, and The portability of mobile has promoted ease of
it continues to wield profound influence on civic, access to the Internet. Conventional services
commercial and social engagement in society. such as banking, access to government services,
and education are now accessible in regions
One of the outcomes is an explosion of data that is where these services were either unavailable or
bringing numerous insights that are changing our inadequate before. Governments throughout the
world. A study conducted in 2013 found that the world -- and particularly in developing countries
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impact of the mobile sector on other industries -- are looking to mobile platforms for innovative
such as energy, health and financial was so ways to improve the delivery of public services and
profound that it could fundamentally change how to foster participation in public policy-making.4
those sectors operate. The unique capabilities heralded by the “Golden
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Age of Mobile” enable efficiencies that continue
to hold much promise for citizens, businesses and
5.2 Welcome to the digital ecosystem governments alike.

For the last two decades or so, mobile technology The interface between the Internet and devices,
has been at the heart of the digital ecosystem, particularly portable ones, offers an attractive
with innovations in voice, data and increasing distribution platform for multiple apps and
speeds of broadband. This mobile revolution services. Initially, mobile apps were offered to
has helped to bridge access gaps, delivering enable general productivity and information
services to businesses and citizens alike. The retrieval, including email, online calendars,
objective of this chapter is to discuss perspectives contacts, stock market and weather information.
on regulatory strategies that can be adopted to However, public demand and the availability
facilitate diffusion and access of m-services and of developer tools drove rapid expansion into
applications. other categories, such as word processing; social
media; picture sharing; mobile games; factory
automation; GPS mapping and location-based

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