The Importance Of Telecommunication In Economic
Growth
Humans need communication, and from early history,
various means have been used to provide
communication at a distance, with radio, telephone,
television and computer links (Networks).
Which is now an integrated part of the society, it
now looks like our need for information is almost as
great as our need for energy.
Information has been found to be one of the most
important elements for the efficient growth of an
economy. The electronic transfer mode, which
includes broadcasting and telecommunication, plays a
very important role in information management. With
telecommunication, some of the physical constraints
of an organization can be removed in all sectors of
the economy. This will allow increased productivity
through better management and administration.
In a system, the function of telecommunications may
be likened to that of the nervous system in a living
organism. We all know that without rapid and
reliable exchange of information between all parts,
effective control and co-ordination of such systems
would not be possible. Therefore, optimum use could
not be made of the resources available for the
development of the system.
In developing countries like Nigeria, until the
advent of GSM (Global systems mobile),
telecommunication was a big problem because it was
affordable only by the rich; Until the Obasanjo
administration came in to save the day. It is a
well-known fact that some developing countries don’t
have regard for telecommunication as a relevant or
basic infrastructure for growth. Let us now briefly
consider the role that telecommunication can play in
economic growth under some economic activities.
Health
Primary health care delivery is known all over the
world as a programme that is community oriented but
operated by large number of semi skilled workers and
supervised by highly skilled personnel who, to be
effective require telecommunication facilities for
monitoring the performance on field.
The term "Telecommunication medicine" which is the
use of electronic equipment to link physically
separated health facilities is now commonplace in
developing countries. This system has relevance in
our country where we can only boast of about 1
doctor to 8000 patients.
Agriculture
This is one of the most important sectors in the
economy. Using mother tongue with the aid of
telecommunication (Radio, Television). Farmers in
rural areas can be informed future events of natural
disasters like thunderstorms, possible earthquakes,
flood and destructive pests through the aid of
simple meteorological information. They can also be
informed on how to avert the
dangerous consequences of such natural disasters in
the shortest time possible. This system has been
known to have been useful for farmers in rural
areas, in places like Kenya and Philippines.
Education
There is hardly any other area in human endeavor in
which telecommunication can have an impact on its
citizenry, than in education. In addition to the
program of formal education of the citizens by
television, radio, and computer networking (Distant
learning), they have now been made more effective
both in scope and in quality by use of
telecommunication satellite. This is very relevant
now that the country has started the distant
learning program
Transportation
Telecommunication has always played a vital role in
the transport sector all over the world. It is being
used in Hotels/ Airline reservation tickets and
management of courier services. It is also used to
land and Fly airplanes, it is also effectively used
in the management of fleet of vehicles in freight
and passenger transport. With telecommunication, it
has become possible to programme the movement of
human traffic including that of business executives
through mobile phones. This technology was
introduced to Nigeria by the Obasanjo
administration.
We can also use this to effectively manage the
perennial traffic jams in and out of big cities,
which have not been fully exploited for traffic
management in these cities.
Administration
It is a known fact that all machinery of government
depended to a large extent, on information
dissemination provided by telecommunication
infrastructure and system for greater performance.
For example, in these days of electronic welfare,
the police require telecommunication to be able to
maintain, command and control on land, air, and sea.
We all know the great role telecommunication played
during the gulf war, which brought general awareness
of cable network used in the country.
Similarly, in public administration,
telecommunication can play an important role in the
coordination of the three tiers of government in
Nigeria Local, State and Federal.
Conclusion:
Information has shown that telecommunication is
a vital tool for economic growth in the society.
Abolarin Damilola Oluwatobi
LeadCity University
Ibadan, Oyo State
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