Internet Extends Reach of Bangladeshi Villagers

The developed world takes for granted the internet and its limitless spectrum of resources. Until recently, such access was unimaginable for the poor people of Bangladesh. Cellular phone technology has brought internet access to more than 100 Bangladeshi villages, with hundreds more internet centers expected to open by the end of the year. With the help of GrameenPhone, a branch of the Grameen Bank founded by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, individuals connect to the internet through a cell phone and charge fellow villagers to use the technology, at a much lower cost than landlines or travel would require. Bangladeshis now send job applications, check weather or consult with doctors on diagnoses. The ability to perform such mundane tasks at a fraction of the time and cost has saved livelihoods and reconnected families. The Bangladeshis also arrange and conduct traditional marriages over the internet. Online access has markedly expanded the horizons for the world’s rural poor. – YaleGlobal