Mobile Network Big Data for Development: Demystifying the Uses and Challenges

Sriganesh Lokanathan and Roshanthi Lucas Gunaratne
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Sriganesh Lokanathan: LIRNEasia, Sri Lanka
Roshanthi Lucas Gunaratne: Stax Inc., Sri Lanka

Communications & Strategies, 2015, vol. 1, issue 97, 75-94

Abstract: Given the volumes of data that are now generated by mobile networks due to the almost ubiquitous use of mobile phones by the majority of the population, this data can be considered as big data. Spurred by the exponential growth of mobile connectivity, the attendant large volumes of mobile network big data (MNBD), offer the possibility to obtain rich behavioral insights at a scale that was never possible before. MNBD is also one of the few sources of information on low-income groups. The focus of this paper is to illuminate both academics as well as policy makers on the potential uses of MNBD for public purposes, as well as to articulate the challenges that need to be addressed if such work is to be mainstreamed. This paper also provides a literature review of existing work that has leveraged MNBD to produce insights to inform a host of public policy domains including Transport, Economic Development and Health.

Keywords: mobile network; big data; behavioural variables; policy insights; transport; disaster management; regional integration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C80 O20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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http://repec.idate.org/RePEc/idt/journl/CS9704/CS97_GUNARATNE_LOKANATHAN.pdf

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