Owner-users, non-owner users and
how they use phones at the Sri Lanka
BOP
Rohan Samarajiva
Sri Lanka Telecom Limited Media Event
Habarana, 15 September 2007
www.lirneasia.net
Teleuse@BOP
Bottom of the Pyramid
Emerging markets are ‘where the action is’


The next billion...
Untapped potential at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’
www.lirneasia.net

1. What percentage of households had some kind of phone in
2004?
2. How many BOP households had some kind of phone in
2006?
3. Which Province was second highest in phones/households
in 2004? Third?
4. Which province was second highest in
computers/households in 2004?
5. Did fixed phones outnumber mobile phones or vice versa
at the BOP in 2006?
6. What percentage of the BOP made or received
international calls in 2006?
7. What percentage of people making international calls were
women?
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Reality check . . .
8. What percentage of people had made/received a call in
past three months, when approached by survey personnel
in mid 2006?
9. Do women talk longer than men on the phone at the BOP
in Sri Lanka?
10. Do women use the phone for different purposes than men
in Sri Lanka?


What is the dominant purpose for men?
What is the dominant purpose for women?
11. Who makes the decision on whether a woman gets a
mobile


In Sri Lanka?
In Thailand?
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Reality check . . .
Answers?
 The importance of challenging common knowledge/popular
wisdom

Recent fiasco over mobile taxes probably driven by ignorance
 Industry needs to


use representative surveys more and
communicate the results more broadly
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 Not all the right answers in this presentation; some are
from the 2004 Consumer Finance Survey of the Central
Bank







Methodology and background
Everyone has access but not ownership
Who owns phones? Why?
Getting connected
Not getting connected
Gender and telecom
Beyond basic services at the BOP?
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Plan of presentation
Quantitative
Qualitative
Random sample 8,689 Fto-F interviews; in 5
countries 50% diary
6 Focus Group
Discussions per country
(30)
Final output
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Methodology
Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) defined

Many definitions of poverty, but this
study uses SEC D and E; between ages
18-60

SEC does not take into account
income, but it is closely related to
income levels
SEC D & E
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Population (million)
165
1,095
20
89
64
Target population of study
(million)
77*
260
4**
41
15
*excluding FANA/FATA – Tribal Areas; **excluding N&E Provinces
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SEC A, B & C
 ~9,000 sample survey in five countries
 India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines & Thailand
 Understand telecom use at the BOP (= SEC Groups D &E)
in Developing Asia
 Representative of target population
 SEC D&E, ages 18-60
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Teleuse@BOP
Bottom of the Pyramid
Everyone has access, but not
ownership
Overall access is very high
 Most have used a phone in the last 3 months
Used phone in
last 3 months
South East Asia
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
98%
94%
92%
93%
95%
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South Asia
Phones are close at the BOP
 Most can get to a phone in less than 30 mins
Time it takes to reach nearest phone
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
>60 minutes
40%
45-60 minutes
30%
30-45 minutes
20%
15-30 minutes
10%
10-15 minutes
5-10 minutes
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
3-5 minutes
< 3 minutes
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% of non-owners at the BOP
100%
Even in rural areas
Time to nearest phone: urban vs. rural: Sri Lanka
90%
80%
Betw een 45 - 60 minutes
70%
Betw een 30 - 45 minutes
60%
Betw een 15 - 30 minutes
50%
Betw een 10 - 15 minutes
40%
Betw een 5 - 10 minutes
30%
Betw een 3 - 5 minutes
20%
Less than 2 - 3 minutes
10%
0%
Urban
Rural
Sri Lanka
 A small number (6%) in rural areas incur up to US 50 cents
to get to a phone
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% of non owners at BOP
100%
But phone ownership is low
 Just 41% of BOP own their own phone in Sri Lanka
 22% own mobiles; 23% own fixed; few have both
Ownership and GDP per capita (USD, PPP)
90%
9,000
81%
70%
7,000
64%
59%
60%
60%
6,000
50%
5,000
38%
40%
30%
20%
23%
4,000
22%23%
23%
18%
9%
10%
14%
11%
7%
3,000
2,000
1,000
0%
0
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Own a mobile
Own a fixed phone (household)
Own nothing (but use something)
Per Capita GDP PPP (USD)
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8,000
76%
GDP per capita, USD (PPP)
% at bottom of pyramid
80%
BOP in South Asia mainly used public phones
 30% of BOP in Sri Lanka used public phones most
frequently
% at BOP
Most frequently used mode
100%
90%
80%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Public phone
35%
71%
Relative / friend's phone
10%
1%
30%
8%
7%
12%
14%
Neighbours phone
8%
6%
7%
14%
7%
Mobile of another household
member
1%
12%
4%
6%
11%
5%
Household fixed phone
14%
9%
21%
4%
8%
Own mobile
21%
9%
17%
56%
73%
www.lirneasia.net
70%
Why did they use their most-frequent mode?
 Convenience and lack of other options override cost
Reason for selecting most frequent mode: Sri Lanka
Other
6%
Privacy
7%
Lower cost
18%
Users of
public
phones
Accessibility at
any time
35%
Lack of other
options
30%
Not users
of public
phones
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Quality of
connection
2%
Accessibility in
any location
2%
Bottom of the Pyramid
Who owns phones? Why?
41%
of BOP in Sri Lanka
own a phone
Why own a mobile phone?
 Convenience is key; privacy is more of a concern for Sri
Lanka (highest) and Philippines
Primary reason for choosing to own a mobile
1%
% of mobile owners at the BOP
18%
80%
1%
3%
7%
16%
4%
6%
11%
4%
10%
7%
20%
9%
17%
Other
5%
It is cheaper
60%
For privacy
92%
40%
71%
64%
66%
68%
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Convenience: accessibile
at any time
20%
0%
Pakistan
India
So I don’t depend on
others
Thailand
www.lirneasia.net
100%
Why own a fixed phone?
 Same reasons on fixed
Primary reason for choosing to own a fixed phone
3%
7%
1%
6%
10%
16%
17%
22%
% of fixed owners at the BOP
11%
0%
80%
18%
7%
14%
24%
Other
6%
8%
For privacy
60%
So I don’t depend on others
40%
80%
65%
55%
60%
63%
20%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka Philippines Thailand
It is cheaper
Convenience: accessibile at any
time
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100%
Growth in mobile phone ownership at BOP since 2001
80%
76%
60%
60%
40%
23%
22%
9%
20%
0%
before
2001
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year during which connection was obtained
Pakistan
Philippines
India
Thailand
2006
(Q1&2)
Sri Lanka
 92% of mobiles at Sri Lankan BOP are prepaid
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%(cumulative) at BOP
100%
Older fixed connections; LK picked up after 2005
80%
60%
40%
23%
18%
14%
11%
7%
20%
0%
before
2001
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Year during which connection was obtained
Pakistan
Philippines
India
Thailand
Sri Lanka
2006
(Q1&2)
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%(cumulative) at BOP
100%
Mobiles used more often as the primary phone by males at
BOP in South Asia
76%
80%
70%
56% 55%
60%
50%
40%
30%
30%
20%
22%
11%
10%
12%
12%
5%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Male
Female
Philippines
Thailand
www.lirneasia.net
% of mobile owners at BOP
70%
Who decides female ownership of phone at BOP?
(Patriarchy lives in South Asia!)
Who makes the decision to obtain a mobile
100%
26%
80%
60%
91%
40%
74%
20%
9%
0%
South Asia
South East Asia
Male
Female
www.lirneasia.net
% of female mobile owners at BOP
(among female mobile owners)?
Bottom of the Pyramid
Getting connected
1.3 million
from BOP in Sri Lanka will
get connected between mid2006- mid-2008
31% of the BOP in Sri Lanka plan to get connected
between mid-2006- mid-2008
 This means that by mid-2008, 72% of BOP will own their
own phone, unless actively hindered
Don't own
and don't
plan to buy a
phone
Prospective
owners
Plan to buy a
phone between
mid-2006 & mid2008
1.3 million
(31% of BOP)
1.8 million
(41% of BOP)
Already own a
phone
www.lirneasia.net
1.2 million
(28% of BOP)
Monthly
spend (LKR)
Current take
(VAT+2.5%)
Orig. proposal
(VAT+50+7.5%)
Am. proposal
(VAT+10%)
200
35
95 (48%)
50 (25%)
400
70
140 (35%)
100
600
105
185 (31%)
150
800
140
230 (29%)
200
1000
175
275 (28%)
250
1200
210
320 (27%)
300
1400
245
365 (26%)
350
1600
280
410 (26%)
400
1800
315
455 (25%)
450
2000
350
500 (25%)
500 (25%)
Understated because tax on tax not calculated
www.lirneasia.net
Hitting the poor (Hutch ARPU = LKR 311; Dialog prepaid
ARPU = LKR 414; Dialog postpaid ARPU = LKR 1,709)
The cost of getting connected…Expectation vs. affordability
gap
Expected cost of a new phone by non-owners
Initial cost that prospective owner can afford
90%
90%
80%
80%
>USD 176
USD 146-175
USD 116-145
USD 86-115
USD 56-85
USD 26-55
<USD 25
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
70%
More than USD 71
60%
USD 51 - 70
50%
USD 31 - 50
USD 10 - 30
40%
Less than USD 10
30%
20%
10%
0%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
 70% of non-owners at BOP in Sri Lanka believe that the
cost to get connected will be greater than USD56
 Only 11% can afford more than USD50
 Can get new mobile and connection for USD 33; lower
with second-hand phone
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70%
% of prospective owners at the BOP
100%
% of non-owners at BOP
100%
Use cost: most can afford USD5 per month on
communication
Monthly charges: expected vs. affordable
100%
90%
80%
% of users
70%
More than USD 20
USD 11 - 15
USD 5 - 10
Less than USD 5
60%
50%
40%
20%
10%
Pakistan

India
Sri Lanka
Expectations and affordability are in line


expected
affordable
expected
affordable
expected
affordable
expected
affordable
0%
Philippines
Most expect the monthly cost to be less than USD5, which most can afford to
pay
Also in line with ARPUs of mobiles (USD 3-4)
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30%
Most would use phone for emergency communication &
keeping in touch
What respondent would use the phone for if given one at an affordable
rate
84%
80%
To keep in touch with family and
friends
69%
% of respondents
70%
50%
44%
For networking
s
40%
To enhance my income
26%
30%
10%
Only in an emergency
52%
50%
20%
58%
57%
60%
21%
17%
18%
13%
10%
Other
11%
2%
1%
5%
2%
3%
1%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
www.lirneasia.net
90%
Most new connections in Sri Lanka will be fixed phones
Type of phone prospective owners would buy
100%
9%
4%
7%
1%
90%
80%
60%
67%
Not decided yet
68%
91%
50%
Mobile
Fixed phone
40%
30%
52%
20%
10%
www.lirneasia.net
40%
70%
23%
29%
8%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Affection for fixed higher in rural Sri Lanka…
100%
4%
8%
80%
60%
36%
62%
Not decided
Mobile
40%
20%
56%
34%
0%
Urban
Rural
Sri Lanka
Fixed
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% of prospective owners at BOP
Type of phone prospective owner would buy:
Urban vs. rural
Bottom of the Pyramid
Not getting connected
1.2 million
from BOP in Sri Lanka will not
get connected between mid2006 & mid-2008
The biggest barrier to ownership at the BOP is
affordability

31% plan to get connected between mid-2006 and mid-2008

BUT, 28% will not
Don't own
and don't
plan to buy a
phone
Plan to buy a
phone between
mid-2006 & mid2008
1.3 million
(31% of BOP)
1.8 million
(41% of BOP)
Already own a
phone
www.lirneasia.net
1.2 million
(28% of BOP)
What do we know about this group?
100%
90%
80%
70%
52%
64%
61%
53%
56%
60%
Female
Male
50%
40%
30%
20%
48%
36%
39%
47%
44%
Philippines
Thailand
10%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
www.lirneasia.net
% of non-owners at BOP who do not plan to buy a
phone
 The majority in Sri Lanka will be females
Among those not planning to buy phones, males are more
dependent on public phones, while women are more
dependent on other peoples’ phones
100%
12%
21%
22%
80%
49%
70%
64%
68%
60%
87%
83%
86%
83%
Other peoples' phones
50%
Public phones
88%
40%
79%
78%
30%
51%
20%
36%
32%
10%
13%
17%
14%
17%
0%
Male
Female Male
Pakistan
Female Male
India
Female Male
Sri Lanka
Female Male
Philippines
Female
Thailand
www.lirneasia.net
% of those not planning to buy a phone
90%
What do we know about this group?
100%
90%
80%
70%
47%
54%
58%
60%
86%
92%
50%
40%
30%
20%
53%
46%
42%
10%
14%
8%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Rural
Urban
www.lirneasia.net
% of non-owners at BOP who do not plan to buy a
phone
 The large majority in Sri Lanka will be rural
What do we know about this group?
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
13%
25%
14%
4%
12%
7%
6%
15%
19%
39%
22%
13%
79%
50%
40%
30%
20%
67%
50%
45%
57%
10%
16%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Above 3rd quartile
Median-3rd quartile
1st Quartile-median
Below 1st Quartile
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% of non-owners at BOP who do not plan to buy a
phone
 Poorer. The large majority will have monthly
household incomes below USD75.81 (median)
What do we know about this group?
 Older
The mean age of this group will be 40 years of age
 Compared to mean age of mobile owners at BOP of 33 years
www.lirneasia.net

What do we know about this group?
 Make fewer calls
 They make and receive a total of 8.65 calls per month

Compared to the average for the Sri Lankan BOP of 23.2
(compared to those who plan to buy a phone who make and
receive a total of 15.05 calls per month)
Do not plan on buying
phone by mid-2008
Mean monthly number of
calls
(incoming + outgoing)
Source: diary
8.65
Plan on buying
phone by mid-2008
15.05
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Non-owners
Gender and telecom at the BOP
Findings from T@BOP2
Access: Primary phone used in Sri Lanka
Most frequently used phone: m ales vs. fem ales
31%
26%
Public phone
Public phone
1 : 1.2
60%
23%
30%
Neighbor/friend/relative
's phone
Neighbor/friend/relative'
s phone
1 : 0.8
40%
4%
9%
Mobile of another
household member
Mobile of another
household member
1 : 0.5
Household fixed phone
Household fixed phone
1 : 0.8
Ow n mobile
Own mobile
1 : 1.8
% of BOP
80%
19%
23%
20%
22%
12%
0%
Male
Female
Sri Lanka
 Small gender divide in access exists at BOP in Sri Lanka


Individually owned mobiles and public phones appear to be more
male-dominated access modes
Use of household fixed phones, and other people’s phones (within as
well as outside of the house) is more often among females
Ratio of 1 indicates equal access between males and females. Ratio > 1 indicates males use access
mode more often as primary phone (e.g. mobiles). Ratio < 1 indicates females use access mode more
often as primary phone (e.g. neighbor/friend/relative’s phone).
www.lirneasia.net
Ratios: f : m
100%
However, far larger divide exists in India and Pakistan, esp. on
mobile, and public phones in Pakistan
Most frequently used phone: m ales vs. fem ales
100%
80%
60%
71%
70%
Neighbor/friend/relat
ive's phone
Mobile of another
household member
40%
20%
India
Public phone
6%
3%
9%
10%
6%
10%
5%
12%
0%
Male
Household fixed
phone
Ow n mobile
Female
Public phone
1 : 1.0
Neighbor/friend/relative's
phone
1 : 0.6
Mobile of another household
member
1 : 0.5
Household fixed phone
1 : 0.9
Own mobile
1 : 2.7
Most frequently used phone: m ales vs. fem ales
% of bottom of the pyramid
India
Pakistan
100%
Public phone
Public phone
1 : 1.9
Neighbor/relative/friend's
phone
Mobile of another
household member
Household fixed phone
Neighbor/friend/relative's
phone
1 : 0.4
Mobile of another household
member
1 : 0.1
Household fixed phone
1 : 0.7
Own mobile
1 : 2.7
24%
80%
45%
26%
60%
40%
20%
11%
3%
11%
22%
16%
30%
11%
0%
Male
Female
Pakistan
Ow n mobile
www.lirneasia.net
% of bottom of the pyramid
Ratios: f : m
Access almost equitable in Philippines and Thailand
7%
7%
80%
25%
21%
Public phone
60%
9%
3%
13%
4%
Neighbor/friend/relative's
phone
40%
56%
55%
20%
0%
Mobile of another
household member
Household fixed phone
mobile
Most frequently used phone: m ales Ow
vs. nfem
ales
Male
100%
80%
% of BOP
Ratios: f:m
100%
Female
Public phone
1 : 0.9
Neighbor/friend/relative's phone
1 : 1.2
Mobile of another household
member
1 : 0.7
Household fixed phone
1 : 0.7
Own mobile
1 : 1.0
Philippines
7%
6%
7%
4%
6%
8%
4%
12%
76%
70%
Mobile of another
household member
Household fixed phone
20%
0%
Ow n mobile
Male
Female
Thailand
Thailand
Public phone
Neighbor/friend/relative'
s phone
60%
40%
Philippines
Public phone
1 : 1.1
Neighbor/friend/relative's phone
1 : 0.7
Mobile of another household
member
1 : 1.9
Household fixed phone
1 : 0.3
Own mobile
1 : 1.1
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% of BOP
Most frequently used phone: males vs. females
100%
90%
80%
28%
23%
22%
34%
26%
32%
Ratios: f:m
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
30%
29%
28%
19%
14%
Male
Female
0%
Urban



Rural
Public
1 : 1.2
1 : 1.2
22%
Other peoples’
phones
1 : 0.7
1 : 0.7
12%
Fixed
1 : 1.0
1 : 0.8
Own mobile
1 : 1.4
1 : 1.9
40%
17%
20%
10%
Urban
23%
Male
Female
public
other peoples
fixed
own mobile
Rural
Gender divide on mobile is most severe in rural Pakistan (ratio of 1 : 4.8)
and rural India (ratio of 1 : 3.9)
Highest reliance on other peoples’ phones among women in rural
Pakistan
Public phones hold strong among women even in rural India
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% of urban or rural males or females at BOP
Little urban-rural differences in Sri Lanka except on
individually owned mobiles
(India and Pakistan only)
100%
90%
23%
80%
70%
60%
73%
68%
73%
54%
66%
12%
50%
36%
14%
40%
30%
25%
36%
60%
15%
20%
5%
8%
10%
14%
10%
22%
10%
10%
6%
10%
9%
3%
Female
Male
Female
0%
Male
23%
12%
Urban
Rural
9%
38%
Male
18%
22%
10%
5%
Female
Male
Female
Urban
India
Rural
Pakistan
Ratios: f:m
India
public
other peoples
fixed
own mobile
Pakistan
Urban
Rural
Urban
Rural
Public
1 : 1.0
1 : 1.0
1 : 1.6
1 : 2.2
Other peoples’ phones
1 : 0.5
1 : 0.5
1 : 0.3
1 : 0.2
fixed
1 : 0.8
1 : 1.1
1 : 0.6
1 : 0.8
own mobile
1 : 2.3
1 : 3.9
1 : 2.1
1 : 4.8
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% of urban or rural males or females at BOP
Access: Urban vs. Rural
Use: average number of calls per month
90
85
79
Total (in+out)
70
37
60
50
43
40
30
18
20
10
25
46
46
19
20
Outgoing
Incoming
25
24
10
9
27
27
12
26
15
16
15
5
5
14
15
11
10
Male
Female
Male
Female
0
Male
Female
Pakistan
Male
Female
India
32
Sri Lanka
Philippines
48
48
Male
Female
Thailand
•Only country where differences were significant (95% confidence
interval) was Pakistan
www.lirneasia.net
average calls per month
80
Use: Average call duration (mins)
5.00
4.4
4.50
3.8 3.9
3.50
3.5
3.4 3.4
3.0
3.00
2.8
Male
Female
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
•NB, minutes recorded were an approximation (e.g., ‘1 min or less’,
‘2-3 minutes’, ‘about 5 mins,’ ‘about 10 mins’…)
•Only country where differences between men & women were
significant (95% confidence interval) was Pakistan
www.lirneasia.net
Average call duration
4.00
4.1 4.0
Use: Purpose of calls
90
1.3
1.8
70
60
63.8
50
7.0
5.7
3.0
1.6
India
Sri Lanka
3.9
9.2
3.1
2.8
10.2
2.1
Philippines
20.0
21.5
Business
Thailand
Significant differences:


Pakistan: male vs. female use of the phone to keep in touch and for business
purposes (95% confidence interval)
India: male vs. female use of the phone for business purposes (90%
confidence interval)
www.lirneasia.net
20.1
Female
16.6
Male
0.6
6.0
Female
33.8
Male
8.7
Pakistan

32.3
22.8
Male
0
1.9
Female
10
32.2
Check something
or deliver
message
Keeping in touch
8.5
Male
20
55.8
6.5
Female
30
6.7
1.3
Male
40
Female
average calls per month
80
Bottom of the Pyramid
What about “beyond-basic” services,
including IDD, at the BOP?
Currently few at the BOP use the Internet; even fewer know
what it is
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
1.9%
0.3%
1.5%
8.8%
10.4%
Use the Internet
Internet ‘un-awareness’
80%
71.9%
60%
50%
40%
36.0%
35.7%
28.6%
30%
20%
14.3%
10%
0%
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Not heard of Internet
Next to the Philippines, highest level of knowledge. . .
Philippines
Thailand
www.lirneasia.net
% of bottom of the pyramid
70%
Even less so in rural Sri Lanka
Pakistan
Use the Internet
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Urban
Rural
Urban
Rural
Urban
Rural
Urban
Rural
Urban
Rural
3.0%
0.7%
0.2%
0.1%
2.1%
1.4%
12.8%
4.3%
22.0%
2.3%
Internet ‘un-awareness’
77.9%
80.0%
% at BOP
67.0%
60.0%
48.7%
42.8%
Urban
40.0%
29.6%
23.5%
23.8%
Rural
19.8%
20.0%
9.3%
9.6%
0.0%
Pakistan
India
Not a massive urban-rural gap in knowledge
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
www.lirneasia.net
100.0%
SMS is popular even at BOP
Use of SMS
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
60%
50%
35%
Pakistan

India
30%
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Thailand
Among non-users, 39% in Sri Lanka state the reason as not
knowing how to use it
www.lirneasia.net
% of mobile owners who use SMS
100%
Relative cost of an SMS plays a more significant role (than actual
cost) on SMS use at BOP
100%
100%
80%
6.0
70%
5.0
4.0
60%
60%
50%
50%
40%
3.0
35%
30%
2.0
20%
1.0
10%
0.0
0%
Jazz Budget
Airtel Regular
Dialog KIT
Standard
Smart TnT
Pakistan
India
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Call to mobile on-net
Call to mobile off-net
Use SMS
* This relationship is examined only for the prepaid case, because mobile use at the BOP is predominantly prepaid;
charges as at June 2007
www.lirneasia.net
90%
7.0
% of mobile owners at BOP
Ratio of outgoing call to SMS charge
8.0
Mostly local at BOP, but some international in LK & PH
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1%
28%
4%
22%
6%
6%
1%
16%
34%
International call
Long distance call
88%
71%
Pakistan
Source: Diary
0%
78%
84%
62%
India
Sri Lanka Philipines Thailand
Local call
www.lirneasia.net
% of calls
Type of call (local, long distance, international)
1.5 million expatriate workers, 90% in West Asia
 44% male; 56% female, according to SLBFE


840,000 women separated from families
660,000 men separated from families
www.lirneasia.net
 Don’t they need to talk?
International calls: Who is calling/being called?
Primarily rural females, with primary or secondary education,
aged 25-54


Different from the Philippines: more males, mostly living in urban
areas, with higher levels of education, mostly below 34.
The bulk of the calls are made by trained & untrained laborers
(25 %); Farmers / agricultural workers (16%); Housewives
(13%)

Again, different from the Philippines: mostly housewives (32%),
those employed in services (18%) or unemployed (17%)
2006 data; excluding N&E provinces
www.lirneasia.net

Gender of the caller/callee (as a percentage of international calls made)
100.0%
90.0%
53.9%
70.0%
71.2%
60.0%
Female
Male
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
46.1%
20.0%
28.8%
10.0%
0.0%
Sri Lanka
Philippines
www.lirneasia.net
% of international calls
80.0%
Location of the caller/callee (as a percentage of international calls
made)
100.0%
90.0%
29.1%
70.0%
60.0%
88.3%
Rural
Urban
50.0%
40.0%
70.9%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
11.7%
0.0%
Sri Lanka
Philippines
www.lirneasia.net
% of international calls
80.0%
Educational attainment of callers/callees
100%
0%
3%
14%
90%
19%
70%
Graduate
60%
50%
Diploma level
97%
www.lirneasia.net
% of international calls
80%
Primary or secondary
education
40%
67%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Sri Lanka
Philippines
Age of the caller (as a percentage of international calls made)
40.0%
36.9%
35.0%
29.7%
40.0%
25.2%
25.0%
35.0%
20.0%
Sri Lanka
32.0%
30.1%
30.0%
10.0%
5.4%
5.0%
2.7%
0.0%
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55+
25.0%
20.0%
www.lirneasia.net
15.0%
% of international calls
% of international calls
30.0%
Philippines
16.5%
15.0%
12.1%
9.2%
10.0%
Age of the respondent
5.0%
0.0%
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
Age of the respondent
55+
Fragmented families in a maldeveloped country . . .
www.lirneasia.net
 In North as well as South, but more pronounced in Jaffna .
..
 Results from a unique snapshot from “between the wars”
cleared areas of Jaffna district (2005 end of Q1)
Use for keeping in touch with family and friends abroad
100
90
80
Fixed
Mobile
Public access
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Urban
Rural
Jaffna
Sri Lanka
www.lirneasia.net
% of users
70
People in Jaffna were heavier users, especially on mobiles
 Received and made more international calls than any
other location in SL
 Mobile
 Fixed
 80% of households in Jaffna district have family/friends outside
district
www.lirneasia.net
 Reflects highly dispersed families: need to keep in touch,
arrange for remittances
Higher % spend longer time talking on their mobiles
Approximate duration of outgoing mobile calls
100
90
70
60
www.lirneasia.net
% of mobile users
80
> 3 minutes
< 3 minutes
50
40
30
20
10
0
Urban
Rural
Jaffna
National
Urban
Sri Lanka
Rural
Jaffna
International
Sri Lanka
Jaffna urbanites used the Internet more than others in same
socio-economic groups
Internet Use
16
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Urban
Rural
Urban
Jaffna
•Mostly for keeping in touch
Rural
Badulla
Urban
Colombo
Urban
Rural
Hambantota
www.lirneasia.net
% who use Internet
14
1. What percentage of households had some kind of phone in
2004? 24.5%
2. How many BOP households had some kind of phone in
2006? 41%
3. Which Province was second highest in phones/households
in 2004? NWP. Third? Northern (excl. Mannar, Kili,
Mulativu districts).
4. Which province was second highest in
computers/households in 2004? Northern (as above).
5. Did fixed phones outnumber mobile phones or vice versa
at the BOP in 2006? F=23%; M=22%
6. What percentage of the BOP made or received
international calls in 2006? 4%
7. What percentage of people making international calls were
women? 71%
www.lirneasia.net
Reality checked
8. What percentage of people had made/received a call in
past three months, when approached by survey personnel
in mid 2006? 92%
9. Do women talk longer than men on the phone at the BOP
in Sri Lanka? No
10. Do women use the phone for different purposes than men
in Sri Lanka? No


What is the dominant purpose for men? Keeping in touch
What is the dominant purpose for women? Same
11. Who makes the decision on whether a woman gets a
mobile


In Sri Lanka? Male
In Thailand? Female
www.lirneasia.net
Reality checked
www.lirneasia.net