There are a number of players in the mobile space – Government, private sector, bilateral agencies, NGOs/CSOs, implementing agencies, users and others. The areas for consideration are: do we need more mobile innovations and incubation of new ideas to extract mobile benefits for social change? Do we need more research and networking? What is the scope for collaboration? What pattern suits partnership amongst stakeholders? Different set of stakeholders are invited to be part of this advocacy group. The primary stakeholders who will participate in this advocacy group are:

Government
The government through its designated agencies like Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), constitutes the most potent role player in determining the mobile landscape. The government creates the force behind the mobile infrastructure backbone. Policy consolidation is called for.

 Mobile Value Added Service (MVAS) & Content
The effective role of mobile value added services (MVAS) will determine the trend in mobile usage and penetration in coming days. The growth drives m-services such as m banking, m-education, m-governance, m-health and m-agriculture, which need innovation and promotion.

Phone Device: Manufacturers/ App Developers
The role of manufacturers and developers is to simplify smartphone user screens and help overcome technical and literacy barriers that ‘illiterate’ users face. Manufacturers are required to provide users with more airtime, battery management widgets, and inexpensive phone sharing and emergency SMS features.

Bilateral Agencies
The role of bilateral agencies like UNICEF, WHO and UNESCO seeks to explore on how mobiles can address policy and programme priorities to serve the underserved communities by bringing in desirable social and behavior changes amongst them. As a way forward, they should intensify efforts on taking it forward and have more in-depth insight and focus.

 Civil Society Groups
The role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) assumes significance in view of their wider engagement in civic and development initiatives. Of late, the social sector has seen an increase in use of ICTs to deliver solutions and service serving underserved groups and communities. The widening mobile space is being explored to provide low cost and innovative solutions to address old and new service delivery challenges in areas like education, health and women empowerment.

Primary & Secondary Stakeholders