A qualitative exploration of mobile phone use by non-owners in urban Bangladesh

Despite a manifold increase in mobile penetration in Bangladesh, a significant number of people still do not own a mobile phone. However, the communication needs of non-owning users (NOUs) are being met by a large number of public mobile telephone kiosks and informal sharing amongst people. Available studies on mobile phones have generally tended to be owner-centric. Few studies have documented how NOUs access and use mobile phones and to what end. As such, very little is known about how mobile phones are formally or informally shared among people or if NOUs are more disadvantaged in terms of use and impact than owners. This study explores mobile phone use by NOUs in two locations in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Specifically, two dimensions of use are explored: strategic use of mobiles - the ability to reduce cost and maximize utility, and the ability to shape livelihood strategies. In-depth interviews of 15 NOUs and 12 owners were conducted. The findings show that NOUs adopt several innovative strategies for cost reduction. Findings also reveal that mobile use by NOUs has significant impact on facilitating their livelihood strategies. The effect is particularly strong for those who are migrant workers from rural areas.