Socio-Economic Assessment of Modern Mobile Telecommunication Systems
Dr. Chris DoyleDepartment of Economics
3 December 2012
Socio-Economic Assessment, Slide 2 of 7Dr. Chris Doyle, 3 December 2012
Presentation
• Introduction
• Traditional concerns and consensus
• Looking forward: mHealth
• Benefits vs. Costs
• Concluding remarks
Socio-Economic Assessment, Slide 3 of 7Dr. Chris Doyle, 3 December 2012
Introduction
Benefits?CommunicationsMonitoring/SecurityProductivityInternet accessmHealthmFinance
Costs?Aesthetic/unsightlyRadiation health concernsInvasive
Socio-Economic Assessment, Slide 4 of 7Dr. Chris Doyle, 3 December 2012
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”
Socio-Economic Assessment, Slide 5 of 7Dr. Chris Doyle, 3 December 2012
Looking Forward: mHealth
Socio-Economic Assessment, Slide 6 of 7Dr. Chris Doyle, 3 December 2012
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
Socio-Economic Assessment, Slide 7 of 7Dr. Chris Doyle, 3 December 2012
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