Civil society organisations have criticised plans by Motorola and government to give millions of SIM cards to the poor.
Sangonet, a non-governmental organisation that promotes the use of ICT in civil society, says Motorola`s plan to give a million SIM cards to the poor will divert resources from basic needs such as food and education.
Government`s strategy to give away four million SIM cards in five years is obsolete, says the SMME Forum. The plan was announced in 2003 and has not yet been carried out.
Giving free SIM cards to poor people will not necessarily help improve their lives, says Fazila Farouk, deputy director of Sangonet. These people will still need to buy handsets and airtime. Motorola`s free SIM card plan will divert resources from more basic needs such as food and education, she says.
"Clearly this is a market expansion strategy and the poor will be penalised," Farouk believes.
Communication is an important part of life, Farouk acknowledges. However, she says, simply dishing out SIM cards is a short-sighted strategy and the initiative must be complemented by other inputs that will add real value to the lives of the poor.
In impoverished communities, it is important that available resources are prioritised to meet basic needs and build sustainable livelihoods, she maintains.
Idea obsolete
Free SIM cards will not help small business owners in disadvantaged communities gain telephonic connectivity that is effective, says Tebogo Khaas, chairman of the SMME Forum.
He says the issue of connectivity for the poor is not about SIM cards; it`s about the cost of making mobile phone calls. SIM cards, he notes, are available at prices as low as R5, making the plan to give away free SIM cards obsolete.
Albi Modise, acting chief director of communications for the Department of Communications, says government welcomes Motorola`s initiative. He also says government`s plan to give away four million SIM cards has not been finalised yet.
Modise`s department is in consultation with the departments of social development, health and education to help reach those who are in need, he says.
"The consultation will help identify gaps and needs in communities and where mobile technology can help with service delivery," he says.
Government believes strongly that free SIM cards will help the poor, Modise says. People who can afford phone connectivity may see the idea of free SIM cards as having little value, but those who are destitute and need government intervention will appreciate them, he argues.
Motorola was unable to respond at the time of publication.
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