Wireless Communication: The Impact of Gsm on the Economic Lives of the Nigerian Rural Users

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the impact of wireless communication cum GSM on the economic lives of the Nigerian rural users, specifically, on the area of employment creation opportunity, crime reduction rate and their overall flow of income. As a result, this study employs a descriptive survey research design and while questionnaire administered to five hundred respondents randomly selected from five rural communities in Rivers State, Nigeria was used as a major instrument of data collection. The resultant findings clearly indicate that wireless communication cum GSM has considerable impact on the economic lives of the Nigerian rural users which also is a major tool for employment creation opportunity thereby diffusing the rate of crime in that area. Further findings conclude that GSM is an emerging communication industry in Africa, with Nigeria rated as one of the fastest growing markets in this field of communication. However, its impact on the Nigerian rural users is still relatively low. Hence, focus should be shifted to the utilization of the GSM for the development of rural communities in Africa, especially, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n7p79