Asia Pacific is stricken by disasters. The vast diversity in geography, development and population density across the region makes preparing for disasters a challenge. Managing disaster risk and the effects of climate change is critical to reducing poverty and building shared prosperity in the region. Mobile networks, and the connectivity they provide, can be a lifeline for those affected by natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies. They are vital to facilitate access to information and coordinate assistance within affected populations and among governments, first responders and the international humanitarian community.
In March 2015, the GSMA launched the Humanitarian Connectivity Charter to support the mobile industry in improving preparedness and resilience. To date, more than 100 mobile operators in more than 75 countries have committed to these principles.
Since then, there has been an increasing focus on the ‘digitisation’ of humanitarian assistance and the provision of aid and services via mobile networks in the Asia Pacific region. One example of this is humanitarian agencies’ use of mobile transfers to distribute funds to beneficiaries. Humanitarian organisations need a full understanding of the mobile money context in the regions they operate in so they can assess the feasibility of incorporating mobile money into preparedness and response activities.
Mobile money in Asia Pacific
In Asia Pacific, 39% of the adult population is unbanked. That figure is more than 80% in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and less than 10% in South Korea, Japan and Australia. Mobile money services, which are now available in 25 countries in Asia Pacific, are increasing financial inclusion. The total number of registered mobile money accounts in Asia Pacific increased 33% in 2015 to 166 million. Of these, 24% were active accounts. A third of all new registered accounts opened globally in 2015 were in South Asia, making it the fastest growing sub-region in terms of registered accounts.
Innovative services in Asia Pacific
Given the frequency and intensity of disasters in Asia Pacific, mobile operators in the region have taken steps to both prepare for and respond to disasters. Examples of innovative services launched in the region include:
- Japan: With regulatory approval, base stations have been placed on ships to provide connectivity if networks on land are compromised. Moreover, network infrastructure has been built with enhanced technology, exceeding the recommended standards, to ensure it is as resilient as possible – for example, by reinforcing antennas and building extra strong foundations for base stations.
- The Philippines: Mobile operator Smart Communications has established the “ICT Bayanihan” communications summit series, attracting participants from the private sector, media, government, utilities and amateur radio operators. The aim is to enhance coordination between all organisations involved in the provision of communications in the country and develop a regional rapid emergency telecoms team.
- Sri Lanka: Mobile operator Dialog, in partnership with the Disaster Management Centre and other partners, launched the Disaster and Emergency Warning Network (DEWN) in January 2009, which sends alerts to mobile phones and DEWN alarm devices. This was the first such early-warning system for disasters in South Asia.
The full GSMA Report on Disaster Response in the Asia Pacific Region can be accessed here.