life without a cellphone1
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Assignment
Life without a Cell phone: Economic and Social Aspects
Department of Economics
Government College University, Lahore
Life without a Cellphone: Economic and Social Aspects
Hey, are the signals back? One says with extremely tensed and depressed expressions on
the face, as if something very precious has been taken away from a person. Also, when would
be the networks working again, life is boring, gloomy and empty; adding more colors to it,hundreds of comics and pictures were depicting the same and related feelings.
On the other hand, we also heard some people saying that these three days were very
peaceful, without tension and the hustle bustle. I had a wonderful sleep, was able to do many
pending tasks and the list goes on.
Cellular phone is what I am talking about; a necessity of an individuals life these days.
Recently in Pakistan, the mobile networks were jammed in order to protect the common
public, because of the threats being received of terrorist attacks on Muharram-ul-Harams
gatherings. The interior minister for the federation has ordered the mobile companies to block
the mobile networks from 8th to 10th Muharram, as the mobiles are being used as a weapon to
do bomb blasts and due to the conflicts that may arise because of Sunni-Shia differences.
This ban was criticized by the public as banning the networks can never be a permanent
solution for the stoppage of the rising terrorism. Due to no network coverage people were not
able to contact each other in emergency situations and can strengthen the problems, but it
actually helped in saving lives as well.
Before analyzing whether the life without a cell phone is a good or bad, is cell phone a
blessing or a curse, and its social and economic aspects, here is a brief background of
telecommunication industry in Pakistan.
The Telecommunications Ordnance of 1994 created the Pakistan Telecommunication
Authority (PTA); Pakistan's first independent telecommunications regulator, and the Pakistan
Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL); a state-owned monopoly. Due to a lack of
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competition, local telephone call rates were high and international call rates were even
higher. During the 1990s, a call to United States cost $5 per minute (300 Pak Rs. per minute),
which was not affordable for most of the population. In addition customer service was poor;
fixing a problem might take 10 to 15 days. Despite this, consumers had to stick with PTCL,
as they had no other options.
In January 2004 the Ministry of Information Technology issued itsMobile Cellular
Policy with objectives to:
Promote efficient use of radio spectrum; Increase choice for customers of cellular mobile services at competitive and
affordable prices;
Encourage private investment in the cellular mobile sector; Recognize of the rights and obligations of mobile cellular operators; Provide for fair competition among mobile and fixed line operators; and Provide an effective and well defined regulatory regime that is consistent with
international best practices.
The mobile telecommunications sector is seeing very large year-to-year growth in
Pakistan. Approximately 90 percent of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone
coverage and more than half of all Pakistanis have access to a cell phone. With 118 million
mobile subscribers in March 2012, Pakistan has the highest mobile penetration rate in the
South Asian region.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Mobilink continues to
lead the market with 35.7 million subscribers, followed by Telenor with 29.3
million, Ufone with 23.1 million, Zong with 15.6 million, and Warid Telecom with 14.3
million. All telecom companies are working to broaden their networks in the Azad Jammu
and Kashmir and Northern Areas, which were largely ignored until recently. Five of the
seven Agencies of the tribal areas have mobile coverage. Pakistanis collectively sent over 151
billion text messages during the year 2009. Nokia has cited Pakistan to be producing the third
highest SMS traffic in the world in 2010.
The major networks operating in Pakistan are: Mobilink, Ufone, Warid, Telenor and
Zong. The major cellular companies whose cell phones are prominent and loved by the public
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are Nokia, Samsung, Sony, HTC, Apple, Blackberry and some low cost Chinese and Korean
mobile cellphones are also getting popularity.
In this era of huge technological advances, one cannot simply neglect the benefits of a
cell phone. The world is turning into a global village; it is becoming so fast and furious with
continuously changing trends. Generally speaking, few years back, a person who cannot read
or write was considered to an illiterate, but now, a person who does not know how to deal
with the technology is considered backward and illiterate. Although I dont completely
agree with this statement as it all depends upon the needs of an individual and literacy is not
only about this. But this phenomenon does exist.
From owners of big businesses to vegetable vendors of small towns cell phones can be
seen with almost all people of the world today. Teenagers and colligates, people busy talking
even while they are driving. Cell phone is useful in quite a massive number of ways, which
are as follows;
Communication has become easy, you can talk to your family, friends and relatives inno time. Just dial a number and youre connected to them even if they are residing in
the remotest areas of the world.
Longer distances, no longer are distances, as the cell phones are coming with manyhigh technological features that you can talk and see the individual on the other side at
the same time. This gives a feeling of closeness. It has benefitted the people whose
relatives are living abroad either for education, jobs or for any other reason.
With the help of cell phones businessmen constantly stay connected with theiremployees. They also receive all crucial information related to their and other
competitive business and can thus act strategically. Using a cell phone in business
allows for increased flexibility when working, which has numerous advantages. The
more flexible you are, the greater the chances you can show clients your business is
the one to go with. For example, if you're away from the office, clients can still
communicate with you.
Scheduling meetings becomes easier because you're not tied to a computer or desk.You can even conduct a teleconference via cell phone while you're on the go or
traveling. Cell phones increase your ability to multitask.
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One can effortlessly call a person or get help in emergency situations, unlike thelandline phones, if one faces any emergency outside the home, he/she can
immediately call the rescue, police, fire brigade, hospital and can inform the family or
friends.
Short messaging service (SMS) is one of the perfect ways of communication and hasgreatly helped the people who are busy in their lives to stay connected when they
dont have time to call and explain. It makes you feel associated with your friends
even if they are not physically present.
Cell phone can impressively help to remind about the vital tasks one has to do in aday. Instead of holding a big diary; you can simply make a To-Do List on your phone.
It helps as an alarm, it acts as a reminder and it helps you never forget the significant
events like birthdays, anniversaries and other important days.
The innovation of camera and video in the cell phone helps to capture any memorableevent without holding the big cameras every time. (Cameras still exist and are useful
but the cell phones camera made life handy and easy).
The latest technology cell phones usually called SMART phones are having a featureof Windows, WLAN and Wi-Fi, which enables the user to get connected to the social
media via. Internet. One can quickly share any piece of information he/she wants, can
get any detail and help regarding education, general knowledge, check mails, and
know the latest news, movie shows, can learn many new things, can increase his/her
creativity and bring innovations.
SMART phones are also equipped with GPRS and navigation systems. If you own amobile phone having inbuilt navigation systems, you will never get lost even if placed
in unknown areas. Such cell phones provide you with details of every direction for
reaching your destination.
Cell phones have become an important aid in locating and catching hold of manycriminals who would otherwise have escaped. The police are able to track criminals
by tracking the location where his cell phone is using GPS. All calls made and
received from a cell phone are recorded and provide vital information regarding crime
and criminals.
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Cell phones have completed altered and transformed the way people communicate and
live their lives and have become an inseparable part of our lives. Along with all the above
mentioned advantages; cell phones also have many drawbacks which are as follows:
Cell phones usage had reduced the importance of the person sitting with you at home.The people living far away have become closer and the ones sitting beside you are
being ignored. Communication gap is rising.
There was a time when people used to make calls and send letters, cards, giftsphysically in order to celebrate an event is being confined to the cell phone, one can
simply send a message describing all the feelings, which is good but sometimes it
isolates an individual.
The use of cell phones while driving can cause accidents as the attention is diverted,due to which a person may lose his/her life.
Due to the continuous emission of harmful radiations from the cell phone, excessiveuse of cell phone can be dangerous; it can cause headaches, migraine, loss of focus,
and even cancer.
Use of hands-free (wired/blue-tooth) can at times pass on loud sounds to our earswhich can result in weakening of ear-drums. Nowadays, one can download songs, so
keeping the hands-free glued inside your ears for long hours can really affect the
sensitivity of ears in the long run of life.
It can effect ones education as excessive use become addiction and the opportunitycost of using a cell phone appears to be more attractive than the opportunity cost of
studying. Students will get diversion with cell phones; they are spending a lot of time
with cell phone chatting and browsing online through their smart phone and reducetheir studying activity. Most of the students are turned as cell phone and online
addicts which is a great shortcoming.
It can be a big time distraction and nuisance in calm and silent places like libraries,cinemas, restaurants, etc. Some cell phone users lose the sense of deciding when and
where they can talk on the cell phone and where they cant, without slightest
consideration for the fellow beings around.
Ones mind can never relax while using a cell phone
The importance of nature has been reduced because of the cell phones
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The employees, who receive work-related calls outside of normal work hours,whether on a company-provided phone or a personal cell phone, may feel an
imbalance between their work and personal lives. It can be difficult for an employee
to enjoy time away from work when her duties spill over into family, social and rest
time. This can increase employee stress, reducing the ability of employees to manage
work tasks effectively.
Cell phone communication, at the workplace causes distractions during work. Anemployee who has to stop work tasks throughout the day may suffer from decreased
productivity, which can cause the employee to miss deadlines or put in extra hours tocomplete projects on time.
Besides all these disadvantages, if one person use the cell phone in limits, it can be
beneficial, as excess of everything is bad. It is up to an individual how he/she uses the
technology, it can be helpful, it eases ones life, but with excessive use, nothing can be more
harmful. As said by Henry David Thoreau; Men have become the tools of their tools.
Life without a cell phone doesnt make a difference actually; its only about the
perception and the need of the time. When there was no cell phone, people were still alive,
and they can connect in some way. To cope and adjust with the advances in the technology is
the need of time. One cannot simply remain isolated in this era of technology. To keep in
touch and strategically deal with the world in all matters you have to improve your standards
as well, but in a balanced manner. Balance is the key to success.
The mobile revolution has already begun, and as cell phones continue to be adopted
globally, the telecommunications landscape will undoubtedly continue to grow and change.
Cell phones do indeed have a significant impact on economic growth and development.
Increases in the cellular mobile subscriptions rate contribute to increases in real per capita
GDP. In addition, cell phone use has a small, but significant impact on GDP growth rates.
The use of cell phones by individuals of all ages, irrespective of the differences of their
jobs and income has added a lot to the fast growing mobile industry. Keep aside some
exceptions; No matter if people have food to eat or not, they do own a cellphone. The
incomes of cellphone sellers, mobile company owners and their employees have risen. The
continuous use of cellphones; either your SIM is prepaid or postpaid adds to the incomes of
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shopkeepers, easy paisa concept helping in making more money from commissions, banking
sector is spending on the use of mobile technology in order to ease the consumers and in
return have a tremendous increase in their own earnings. All this indirectly helps to flourish
the economy, employment level is rising, and incomes are increasing. Along with this, the
buying and selling via internet through cellphones helps to develop the economic activity as
well.
Keeping in view, all the economic and social aspects, a life without a cell phone in this
era can be regarded as a bird in the cage, the bird, at first feels uncomfortable, but then he
realizes that he can't get out so he accepts his fate gradually. But this is not the solution, to
survive living in this era one cant live like a bird kept in the cage, one has to connect with
other individuals in a faster manner. However, the limits are necessary. Excessive use cause
distractions and many important tasks can be neglected, both socially and economically. One
has to determine the right priorities for the right time to get success and achievement of the
goals.
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References
http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theses
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_technology.html http://rivr.sulekha.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cell-phone_295902_blog http://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-
12818.html
http://expertscolumn.com/content/disadvantages-cell-phones http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-cell-phones/ http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-cellular-phones-business-4016.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Pakistan
http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theseshttp://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theseshttp://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theseshttp://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theseshttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_technology.htmlhttp://rivr.sulekha.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cell-phone_295902_bloghttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-12818.htmlhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-12818.htmlhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-12818.htmlhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-12818.htmlhttp://expertscolumn.com/content/disadvantages-cell-phoneshttp://benefitof.net/benefits-of-cell-phones/http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-cellular-phones-business-4016.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Pakistanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Pakistanhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-cellular-phones-business-4016.htmlhttp://benefitof.net/benefits-of-cell-phones/http://expertscolumn.com/content/disadvantages-cell-phoneshttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-12818.htmlhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/disadvantages-cell-phone-communication-workplace-12818.htmlhttp://rivr.sulekha.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cell-phone_295902_bloghttp://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_technology.htmlhttp://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theseshttp://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=honors_theses
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