Knowhow of purposeful use of mobile trend the need of the hour: ICTA CEO

The need of the hour is the know-how of purposeful use of the mobile phone phenomenon, said ICT Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) CEO Reshan Dewapura.

Dewapura was addressing the South Asian Mobile Conference 2012 held in Colombo recently (Wednesday 30 May).

Underlining the key role of the mobile phone now and in the future Dewapura said: “It is obvious that the mobile revolution as we call it will play a key role now and in our futures. It is something that we simply cannot ignore, something that we need to factor into our day-to-day businesses, day-to-day activities and simply in our day-to-day lives.”

Need of the hour

Emphasising the need of the hour and the aim of the conference and the agenda tailor-made for it, the ICTA CEO said: “The need of the hour is the knowledge and intelligence on how to use this mobile phone phenomenon/trend/revolution – whatever we may call it, for the purposes that we want to. To figure out what applications and content are needed, to leverage the capabilities of this powerful tool, and be innovative and pioneering in the creation of these. This is what this conference, the South Asian Mobile conference is all about.”

Conference, outcome of progress and mobile revolution

Explaining how progress and the impact of the mobile phone led to Sri Lanka hosting the conference for the third time consecutively, Dewapura said: “From the progression that we have witnessed from the past to the present, this is one event that has for sure gone from success to success. Part of that is due to the achievements in the past years and the other part is the ever growing influence of the mobile phone. The substantial and continuous development in our ICT journey as well as the phenomenal impact of the mobile sphere on the ICT sector are now well-accepted facts.

“The mobile revolution is a great phenomenon that we all can leverage on, to ensure that the benefits of our development activity flow to the ordinary citizens of our countries. The mobile is a tool that is now in the hands of almost every person in the country.

“Be it a basic phone or a smart phone this is something everyone needs to take into consideration, not only for development activities, but also for service delivery. Whether it be in the Government or the private sector the pivotal role of the mobile phone is widely pervasive. It impacts on marketing, advertising, research, development, education, entertainment and for many other things in our daily lives – both in our professional and our personal lives.”

High level mobile phone efficiency even among those low in traditional literacy

Describing how the mobile phone could make people highly efficient in the use of the mobile phone even though their traditional literacy rate was quite poor, Dewapura said: “Recently I met a bunch of kids at a gathering. They were all from diverse geographies across the country, but very definitely from poor rural backgrounds. But all of them had one thing in common. All of them had mobile phones (not just one but two!), a basic phone to make and receive voice calls, and one, a smart phone, to access the internet and, among other things, the blog.

“They said that without the internet they were nothing, with the internet they were many things. They have no certificates or qualifications, and haven’t progressed much in the traditional education system. But with the internet, and through access to the internet, through mainly mobile phones, they have made sure that they can create opportunities for themselves and for others for the future.”

Contribution of conference towards ‘Knowledge Hub’

Referring to the dynamic regional hub and especially ‘Knowledge Hub’ Dewapura said: “In our journey towards a ‘Knowledge Hub’ in the region, these types of regional conferences are of great significance, and become important contributors towards realising such objectives. These activities, together with innovative National Development Programmes such as e-Sri Lanka, play an integral part in contributing to the socio-economic development of countries, such as ours.

“The importance and significance of such activities, or even such a plan of action, is recognised by the Government, and is committed towards it now and in the future. A clear plan for ICT Development is in place. The continuous need take the benefits of ICT to every citizen and make them a part and parcel of this transformation is clearly understood. And as in the past, the ICT Agency is fully committed to implementing this plan and realising the vision.”