70 likes | 159 Views
Socio-Economic Assessment of Modern Mobile Telecommunication Systems Dr. Chris Doyle Department of Economics 3 December 2012. Presentation. Introduction Traditional concerns and consensus Looking forward: mHealth Benefits vs. Costs Concluding remarks. Introduction. Benefits?
E N D
Socio-Economic Assessment of Modern Mobile Telecommunication Systems Dr. Chris Doyle Department of Economics 3 December 2012
Presentation • Introduction • Traditional concerns and consensus • Looking forward: mHealth • Benefits vs. Costs • Concluding remarks
Introduction Benefits? Communications Monitoring/Security Productivity Internet access mHealth mFinance Costs? Aesthetic/unsightly Radiation health concerns Invasive
Traditional Concerns & Consensus • Rapid growth in mobile telecommunications and as an enabler of Internet access makes mobile infrastructure increasingly visible • Scientific studies extensive dating from 1990s: • 1999 Royal Society of Canada;2000 WHO and Stewart Report (UK) • “No general risk to the health of people living near to base stations”
Benefits vs Costs • Benefits derive from access to valuable information • 1st generation mHealth • SMS based alerts • 2nd generation mHealth on 3G • Simple apps user controls • 3rd generation mHealth on LTE • Diagnostics, remote monitoring • Costs include possible elevated risks due to radiation • Scientific studies suggest low costs and in many cases not significant • Costs of health provision lowered and targetting more effective
Concluding Remarks • Scientists say there is no convincing long-term adverse radiation effects from many studies • This is very good news – as benefits are considerable and appear to increase as mobile networks shift from 2G to 3G and onto 4G/LTE • Telenor with Boston Consulting published “The Socio-Economic impact of Mobile Health” in April 2012 • Reference: http://telenor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BCG-Telenor-Mobile-Health-Report-May-20121.pdf