§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether development assistance is available to help with the expansion of mobile communications in the third world. [98808]
§ Clare ShortWe are providing assistance in various ways to help bring the benefits of mobile communications to poorer people in developing countries. For example, the Building Digital Opportunities programme is supporting work at the policy level (e.g. by assisting regulators to develop pro-poor policy environments) and with communities (e.g. supporting local approaches to providing valuable information to poorer communities through mobile phones). Strategic interventions such as our new CATIA programme (Catalysing Access to ICTs in Africa) and the Open Knowledge Network, both include support for pro-poor mobile communication channels.
In addition, we are working to attract greater private sector participation in expanding mobile communications in developing countries. In close consultation with key private companies and the DTI, we are jointly exploring how to enable the private sector bring affordable communications services to the great majority of people in developing countries without easy access to a public telephone. Mobile communications will play a critical role in this. In addition, DFID is contributing to broader infrastructure investment funds, such as the EAIF—Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund—which can support, inter alia, investments in mobile communications facilities.