Mobile internet ‘fails to benefit’ Asia’s senior citizens: Telenor study

A Telenor Group research has revealed that senior citizens of Asia are not fully receiving benefits of mobile phone and internet.

Data collected from its four Asian markets, including Bangladesh, also suggested that the senior segment in some of these markets represented as little as two percent of active mobile users.

Telenor’s Bangladesh subsidiary Grameenphone (GP) on Thursday released a media statement revealing the startling figure.

It said there were fewer smartphone users among senior citizens than the young.

Smartphone is a popular tool for using mobile internet.

In Asia, Telenor also operates telecom business in India, Thailand and Malaysia.

Telenor Group’s Executive Vice President and Head of Asia operations Sigve Brekke expressed ‘concern’ over the findings and stressed on “connectivity for all, not just the young”.

The research note titled ‘The unconnected senior citizens of Asia’ revealed a “distinct drop” in the number of customers above 55 years.

Only one million of its 52 million customers – only 2 percent – are above 60, it said.

Among those surveyed, less than one percent Bangladeshis over 65 use a smartphone, which corresponds with Telenor’s findings in India.

The research also showed a gender discrimination in favour of men.

Among the users above 65 years, only 4.5 percent of women use data while 7.5 percent men do the same, according to the report.

“Given our vision of Internet for All, it is a source of concern for Telenor that senior citizens in our Asian markets are not fully receiving the benefits of the mobile internet,” Brekke said.

“We must work to achieve connectivity for all, not just the young.”