Findings of the research carried out in South Asian countries by regional ICT policy and regulation think tank LIRNEasia maintain cheaper on-net call is the main reason for multiple-SIM ownership. The research was conducted among bottom of the pyramid (BOP) in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. [break]
Unveiling the findings of the report in Bangkok, CEO of LIRNEasia Rohan Samarajiva said that the research showed that the network coverage of mobile operators in this region was getting better and most subscribers said cheaper on-net calls are the major reason. The previous research conducted in 2008 had shown a better network coverage as the major reason for multiple-SIM ownership.
The number of multiple-SIM ownership has increased from 10 to 18 percent in Bangladesh in three years. Similarly, 11 percent of BOP owned multiple-SIM in India which was just 9 percent three years ago. Likewise, 17 percent of BOP has multiple-SIM in Sri Lanka. However, number of multiple-SIM users has drastically gone down in Pakistan to 9 percent this year from 27 percent in 2008.
The report stated that about 70 percent of multiple-SIM users in South Asian region said that they were using multiple-SIM to benefit from low call charges within each network.
The second reason for using service from more than one operator was to enjoy free services of the operator. More than 40 percent respondents in India said they were using multiple-SIM for free services.
The other interesting reason as pointed out by the research is that these users keep multiple-SIM as a back-up in case one runs out of balance. The fourth reason was to get coverage everywhere. Around 30 percent of respondents in aggregate pointed out this reason.
The other reason, which amounts to less than 20 percent, was they were using one phone for business and another for private use.
CEO Samarajiva said that the research showed that access of phone was improving in personal and household levels and phone had overtaken radio and TV.
"Majority of BOP owns a mobile but usage is still limited to voice," he said comparing the report with the findings of 2008 that awareness and use of non-voice services among BOP has not progressed much since 2008.
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