This is the fourth in a series of short briefing documents for journalists on different aspects of ICTs and the ‘information society’. It is offered by Panos as a service to non-specialists, and in particular to journalists wishing to cover information society issues following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November 2005.

According to Panos, wireless technologies can play an important role in social and economic development by making the exchange of information faster, cheaper and more widely accessible. The massive growth in the use of mobile phones, for instance, has revolutionised business communications in many countries. But some governments, especially in Africa, have put policies and regulations in place that limit the introduction of these technologies. For instance, high licence fees, high customs duties on imported equipment, and lack of competition among service providers all keep the costs of using wireless technologies high.

By giving easy to understand explanations and additional resources on the topic, this publication hopes to encourage debate about the positive role governments could have in promoting the potential advantages and applications of wireless technology, and draw attention to any existing restrictive policies.