Published 05-10-12
Submitted by BSR
Wireless products and services are a powerful agent of social change that provide billions of people around the world with anytime, anywhere access, according to a report released today by BSR and commissioned by CTIA-The Wireless Association. The “Socioeconomic Impacts of Wireless Technology” report cites a variety of case studies and uses on the adoption of, and trends in, wireless-enabled applications for finance, healthcare, education, and community engagement.
The report also highlights the role that licensed spectrum availability and the world’s 6 billion mobile connections have played in encouraging innovators to develop a range of applications.
“The wireless industry has already revolutionized the way we communicate, and we’re now seeing how it’s improving almost every other industry by making them more productive and efficient, and it’s changing peoples’ lives for the better all over the world,” said Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA. “In order to continue the great innovations that Americans and the rest of the world have come to expect from the U.S. wireless industry, our members must have access to spectrum so they may continue to create new products and services that will benefit individuals in developing and developed countries.”
“This report highlights just some of the exciting possibilities to meet urgent social needs,” said Marshall Chase, Manager, Advisory Services, BSR. “There are rapidly growing opportunities for people to create vibrant new communities, connect with critical services, and improve their quality of life using wireless technology. To ensure these benefits, the industry will have a critical role to play in providing access at an affordable price.”
The “Socioeconomic Impacts of Wireless Technology” report builds on BSR and CTIA’s 2011 report, “Wireless and the Environment.”
About CTIA-The Wireless Association
CTIA-The Wireless Association (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry’s voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry’s leading wireless tradeshows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.
About BSR
BSR works with its global network of nearly 300 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. Visit www.bsr.org for more information about BSR’s more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and China, BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.
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