Teleuse@BOP3: A Qualitative Study - LIRNEasia

The younger age groups are not only the fastest adopters but they are also the ones using more innovative
techniques in order to save money on phone use. The older age groups conveyed that they know how to manage
their expenditures and as a result do not need to do new things to economize. If they are out of money, they will at
most call from public phones or simply reload credit. The techniques used by the younger age groups, on the other
hand, include owning multiple SIMs, giving missed calls, using the friends and family (F-N-F) offers, sharing load and
using text messages extensively.
Multiple SIMs are in vogue with the younger generations in all the countries except India. This is largely due to the
ease of acquiring a SIM and the low cost in all the other countries. In Bangladesh, the average SIM costs 100 to 150
taka (USD 1.40 to 2.10) from Citycell, Banglalink and Zem while Grammenphone and Warid, come within 200 taka
(USD 2.80). In Sri Lanka, Celltel, Hutch and Airtel are free with Dialog and Mobitel charging between 100 to 150 SLR
(USD 0.80 to 1.20) but special promos often make these free as well. In India, the costs range from 99 INR (USD
1.98) to 200 INR (USD 4.00). In Thailand it is about 25 Baht (USD 0.70) and in Philippines nearly 40 Pesos (USD
1.12). In all these countries, the average number of SIMs for male respondents are 3 in urban areas and 2 in rural
and 2 in urban areas and 1 in rural areas for women, with the case being inverted in Thailand and Philippines. The
highest number of SIMs owned by a single respondent is 5 and it is observed repeatedly in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Pakistan and Philippines.
The prime reason for acquiring multiple SIMs is to be able to reduce costs through phone usage on the same
network. Most young respondents of both the genders are aware of the networks used by most of their social circle
and as a result, they try to acquire SIMs of the same networks. Most respondents in all these countries said that they
have hardly ever paid for the SIMs since they have either received them through hand downs, during special events
or simply for free by recharging of a higher denomination. In Sri Lanka, all the younger male respondents claimed
that they had tried to get themselves a free Airtel SIM which was being distributed by the company on its launch in
Sri Lanka and almost 60% of these respondents had succeeded. Many of these successful acquirers indicated that
they had good relations with their Communication shop owners and as a result, the SIMs were kept in reserve for
them from before. The same is true even for free SIMs given to shopkeepers alone for meeting sales targets which
they then distribute or sell within their social networks.
The second most important reason for the use of multiple SIMs is the lack of or problems in receiving quality network
connection. This phenomenon is observed in all the countries to some extent. In the home visit in Paithan with Marun
and Maini Rawat in India, they pointed out that in spite of having a Vodafone connection; they also had an Idea
connection since Idea’s network is better. They suggested that in their age they did not need to switch SIMs to make
calls but they were compelled to do so due to bad network connection. Similarly, all the respondents in all the
protocols in Bangladesh said they have at least 2 SIMs, one of Grameenphone and the second of primarily of
Banglalink or of Warid. Their reasons are that Grameen has the best network in the whole country but it costs more,
while Banglalink or Warid are cheaper and they are also rapidly improving their networks. Multi SIM respondents in
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