Ninety-seven per cent of consumers in emerging markets using mobile Internet are experiencing fundamental life-changes in key areas of their lives, a report said.

People in emerging and developed markets have different uses of their connections, as well perspectives according to the first Global Bandwidth Index Report , published by Juniper Networks , an industry leader in network innovation.

The survey explores differences between how people use mobile Internet connectivity in their day-to-day lives and what they hope to achieve using their connected devices in the future.

According to the study, 46 per cent of respondents in developing countries use connected devices for professional development versus 27 per cent in developed markets. Furthermore, nearly twice as many people in developing countries regularly use connected devices for educational purposes as those in developed markets.

In the Middle East education is a prime example of how communities are benefiting from the power of connectivity. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are utilising mobile connectivity to develop a knowledge-based society, improve quality of learning and develop skills enabled by technology to empower the leaders of tomorrow. Regional governments are also making significant investments in advanced technologies that aim to transform education.

The Global Bandwidth Index Report indicated that 39 per cent of people in the developing nations surveyed have experienced a significant transformation in their access to education thanks to connectivity.

In developed countries, that number is less than half. Looking to the future, the report indicated that more than half of consumers surveyed in emerging countries would like to have more access to educational resources compared to less than one-quarter in the developed countries included in the survey.

Key findings:

Transformative connections

•    Ninety-seven per cent of people in emerging markets reported fundamental life changes due to connectivity, including a transformation in the way they complete a wide range of essential and everyday tasks, from banking to accessing local information, enjoying entertainment, receiving health care and engaging in civic life.

•    Compare that to 22 per cent of consumers in developed markets who report that connectivity has not had a significant effect on their lives.

The Global Bandwidth Index also uncovered a corresponding impact on people’s perception of economic opportunity.

•    40 per cent of respondents in emerging markets report that connectivity has improved their earning power, compared with just 17 per cent in developed markets.

•    60 per cent of consumers in emerging markets believe that connectivity has transformed their social lives, compared with 38 per cent in the developed countries.

“The Juniper Networks Global Bandwidth Index found that mobile connectivity has had a profound impact on how people communicate, work, learn and play around the world,” said Adrian Pickering, vice president, Middle East & Africa, Juniper Networks.

“This transformation is almost certainly set to continue in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as new technologies emerge, network speeds increase and the demand for connectivity grows. Skills generation, knowledge share, smart services and business incubation all require high bandwidth connectivity to propel emerging markets into flourishing economies,” he added.

Connectivity for self-improvement

•    People in developing countries often use connected devices as a tool for personal advancement and self-improvement, while in the developed world, the focus is much more on convenience and efficiency.

•    In developed nations, on the other hand, people are more likely to use connected devices for practical day-to-day activities like banking (51 per cent), shopping (41 per cent) and searching for local information (42 per cent).

Not all bandwidth created equal

Despite positive life changes, the majority of individuals in emerging markets report they have missed personal and professional opportunities as a result of connectivity challenges.

•    Overall, 60 per cent of consumers in emerging markets cited connection speed as the most common problem (compared with 27 per cent in developed countries).

•    Further, 30 per cent of people in emerging markets stated that simply finding a connection remains an issue (compared to just 13 per cent in developed nations).

“The Global Bandwidth Index data shows that consumers in emerging markets are still significantly more satisfied with their networks than their counterparts in developed countries. The transformative impact of connectivity on peoples’ lives in the developing world is much stronger than the feeling that networks should be faster and more reliable,” concluded Pickering. - TradeArabia News Service