LIVE FROM GSMA MOBILE 360 SERIES – AFRICA: The industry must look at mobile phones as tools for social and economic inclusion, urged South Africa’s deputy minister of telecommunications and postal services.

“As you have discussions about the digital future and the power of mobile telecoms, we here have a clear challenge of poverty and inequality. And its mirror is the rates of unemployment. Basically, our rate of unemployment is unacceptable, it is too high for a country like South Africa,” said Honorary Professor Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize.

“We strongly believe that as we look at access to mobile phones, it is important to look at aspects of economic inclusion. We are looking at access to ensure that people use mobile for social-economic inclusion, which is a major challenge that we have,” she continued.

In an opening keynote session, the regulator highlighted the potential for services such as eLearning and financial inclusion to address some of the challenges the country faces.