Qualcomm CSR Telecommunications Project

Qualcomm Wireless Business Solutions develops new technology through investment in R&D and strategic acquisition. By licensing the rights to use its patented technology, it fosters greater competition in the marketplace. Qualcomm provides chips and software that integrate its technology, quickly developing and introducing client products. Qualcomm and PlaNet Finance China signed an agreement to implement a CSR Telecommunication project in the provinces of Ningxia, Guizhou, and Shaanxi.

Project Background

Since 2005, Qualcomm has been committed to a global CSR program known as “Wireless Reach.” This program brings telecommunications technologies to poverty-stricken regions of the world, usually in partnership with a local telecom service provider. To implement its outreach development programs in China, Qualcomm collaborates with China Unicom and PlaNet Finance China.

PlaNet Finance China in the project

In 2006, PlaNet Finance China was approached by Qualcomm to design a CSR project in China. This resulted in a unique programme championed by Qualcomm and China Unicom, which not only provided low-income, rural microfinance clients with mobile phones, but also gave them access to crucial pricing and market information for the staple goods they sell and the pricing for commodities they need to buy, such as animal feed. PlaNet Finance China was in charge of the distribution of 500 initial handsets in Ningxia Autonomous Region and Ansai in northern Shaanxi. This was followed by the distribution of a subsequent 500 handsets in Ningxiaand Yulin in Shaanxi; later PlaNet Finance conducted a due diligence visit to Xingren County to qualify beneficiaries for the distribution of additional 1,000 handsets to the clients of Guizhou Xingren Rural Development Association.
 

In this project, PlaNet Finance China:

• Assisted Qualcomm in locating clients from poverty-stricken counties who qualify to receive donated handsets.
• Coordinated local and technical partners to ensure the smooth implementation of the project, especially the provision of essential market pricing information;
• Project managers from PlaNet Finance China conducted due diligence and coordination missions;
• PlaNet Finance continues to provide feedback to ensure that the programme is running according to Qualcomm’s instructions, as well as providing information about the impact of this CSR programme.
• As of summer 2008, we are looking for new innovative ways to help low-income populations benefit from wireless technologies with Qualcomm Inc.

Testimonies of Phone Recipients

Yan Chi, Ningxia
Yang Weizu, a 42 year-old pig vendor, became so successful selling pigs in her village that she now helps organize a pig breeding association. She shared with us:
“I have a 16 mu field (2.6 acres) where I plant corn, and I raise the most of the pigs in our village, which I sell in conjunction with the pig breeding association. We sell a total of 300 to 2000 pigs a day. At the pig breeding association, the members often exchange information about poultry raising methods and the price of feedstuff; we are in great need of these kinds of information. Our association also received technical assistance, including veterinarian training from the microcredit project office and the Science Bureau.
The cell phone is a great help. I raise many pigs and am in charge of selling 80-90% of the pigs in our village, so with the help of the cell phone I received I can find out the latest price of pigs on the market as soon as possible. We sell pigs to Xian, Yulin, and Yanan cities so I call the dealers there to ask for prices before I go to the market. If the price is too low, we wait for it to rise. Pigs have been good to sell in the last two years because the pig raisers in our village have been able to make good money. For example, the Association earned more than 100,000 RMB last year. If the market price of pig stays high, I will continue raising more. I am glad I have had this cell phone to help me improve my business. The signal of my cell phone is very good, but one issue is the battery. Sometimes the battery only lasts for one day, it would be much better if it lasted longer.”

An Sai, Shaanxi
Ma Jianlu is famous for planting aubergine in Yangyuan village. He has three greenhouses, two for aubergines and one for mushrooms. He started to plant aubergines with his first 1000 RMB microcredit. Now he is acknowledged as the pioneer of aubergine planting in his village; his aubergines are bigger and better than those of his peers. He is ready to help other villagers and shares the planting skills. With his lead, planting aubergine became the main industry of this village. Microsoft donated a computer to him in recognition of of his achievements. He now learns new planting technologies and acquires market information through the internet.

He received a cell phone from Qualcomm through the microcredit project, and it made his life even better. Before, during the day he was busy looking after the vegetables in the greenhouse, so he could only look into the plant disease on the internet when he went back home in the evening, but sometimes he was too tired to do that. However, with the help of this cell phone, he can call the staff of the Science & Technology Bureau right away when he needs help. In addition, the agricultural SMS messages, 3-5 per day, benefit him greatly, especially the weather report, since the greenhouse is very sensitive to temperature changes, and the vegetables can freeze and die if the heat in the greenhouse is not maintained during a sudden cold snap. He sells aubergines almost every week, and calls the dealers in Xi’an in Shaanxi province ahead of time to ask them to come and collect. He told us that the thing he needs most now is a device to test the soil composition. With this he would know the chemical composition of the soil and could plant out in the most favourable soil and growing conditions if he had this information.