Usage levels of telecommunication technology and the rural household living standards: A case study of Nakaseke District

Abstract

The study examined the usage levels of Telecommunication Technology and living standards in the rural households in Nakaseke district. The study was prompted by the introduction of the village phones especially the MTN village phone in the local areas focusing on Nakaseke district. The study used a cross-sectional survey design utilizing descriptive and correlation methods to examine the usage of telecommunication technology on living standards in seven villages in Nakaseke district. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used in applying spearman’s correlation coefficient which was used to determine the relationship between the study variables. Frequency distribution tables were used to examine the usage of telecommunication technology and living standards of the rural households. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between usage of telecommunication technology, communication and access to information, transaction costs, social capital and living standards. The higher the usage levels of telecommunication technology (village phone), the better the living standards, the more access to information and communication one has together with improved social capital levels, the lower the transaction costs incurred in these villages, and then the better the living standards in terms of income, health, education, sanitation and nutrition. The District should attract investors from allover the world to come and avail the community with increased reliable and affordable village phones. This will increase the usage of TT which will increase communication and access to information. The result will be transforming society and increases in living standards.