A fascinating
presentation.
The report's goal is to promote more cost-effective solutions for remote areas in emerging economies. However, I'm concerned that this could become another endless quest for funding. In my experience, it's better to focus on solutions that succeed in the marketplace. That does a better job of driving costs down and identifying business models that work on their own. Once you have a market-tested solution, creative financing and limited subsidies can be used to greater effect.
One of the report's best ideas is "provide good enough analysis." Too many entrepreneurs get distracted by the notion that the best performance wins. History shows that it's the right balance of performance, cost and convenience that wins. Again, I think the marketplace is much better at finding the right balance than grant-driven projects. Grants tend to mask issues that are crucial to long term success.
The best way to serve remote areas in emerging economies is to create winning solutions for developed countries and just keep growing the market. This is precisely why the mobile phone market is growing so rapidly today in countries such as India.
