As the cost of cell phone technology lowers, the propagation of social changes begins to rise. This World Changing post looks at the phenomenon of decreasing cost and increasing access to cell phones in Africa.

The World Changing post references a NextBillion Blog posting, which in turn references a BBC story, that describes the social implications of low cost mobile communications in Africa.

After years of struggling with their moribund telephone system Nigerians are still entranced by their mobiles.

The mobile phone companies have done more to tackle youth unemployment than any government project
Everyone seems to have a mobile phone. Many have two or three, each tuned to a different network.

It must be swallowing huge amounts of their disposable income, because even making brief business calls I used up $10 (£7) worth of credit every couple of days. And all around me Nigerians were engaged in long and animated conversations.

But their money is at least supporting a whole new sector of employment.

Telephone entrepreneurs

A map of Nigeria showing Lagos and Abuja
In any big town you just have to look around and there will be a boy within hailing distance ready to sell you a top-up card.

Girls are less likely to be scampering about in traffic jams with strings of cards. But give them a picnic table, a red, yellow or green umbrella, and a “make your calls here” sign, and they are set up in the telecommunications business.

The mobile phone companies have done more to tackle youth unemployment than any government project.

Being able to make phone calls has transformed working life in Nigeria.

I am used to thinking of it as a place where getting one thing done a day is an achievement. On my last trip I allowed so much time that I finished three days early.

And it is the mobile phones which have finally banished the traffic jams.

In the days when you could not call anyone, you just had to get on the road and go to their office.

After two hours stuck in the traffic the chances were that you would find the office empty. They were in another jam somewhere, going to see someone else.