🌐 Examples

In October 2024, the World Bank convened national stakeholders in statistics and data at a Mobile Phone Data for Policy workshop in Washington D.C. The workshop included representatives from 18 countries, most of which had operator focal points present, including operators like Telefónica, Orange, and MTN. The objective was to create an action plan for the country to start using mobile phone data for policy. The high levels of engagement were indicative of the excitement around the quality of discussions and outputs this workshop produced.

The mobile network operators were engaged because they were officially approached by World Bank staff, to be part of an initiative with the potential to benefit the country. They assigned a focal point to lead the discussions on behalf of the operator and were given opportunities to shape the collaboration. The workshop provided a perfect basis for in-country discussions to continue between NSO and mobile network operator focal points.

❗Tips

✅ Depending on the advice of the regulator, let the regulator facilitate the approach or send the letter directly to mobile network operator leadership.

✅ If a positive relationship exists between the NSO and at least one of the operators, you may have an introductory meeting before sending the official letter. This is not necessary in most cases, however, as most operators appreciate a direct approach where the justification, stakeholder support, and expectations for next steps are clear.

📖 Resources

Information on the Global Data Facility Mobile Phone Data Program for Policy, Cohort 1 Launch Workshop (7-10 October 2024): https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2024/09/25/global-data-facility-mobile-phone-data-program-for-policy-cohort-1-launch-workshop 

⏩ Next actions

  • Draft a letter to the leadership of the mobile network operators, including the rationale, support, and benchmarks of the project and your request.

  • Send as official communication.

  • Establish a focal point within each mobile network operator in the country.

  • Once operator focal points have been established, invite them for a discussion on how mobile positioning data (MPD) can meet statistical needs and outline next steps for technical workshops. Clearly outline how the process will unfold from this point, how you plan to implement it, and where you expect the operator to contribute.