Mobile phone technologies called GPRS and 3G are bringing Internet access to the world’s poorest people. Nowhere is the impact of these technologies felt more than in Nigeria, India and China. The case of Nigeria is truly remarkable. Just 6 years ago, Nigeria had less than 400,000 fixed lines for a population of about 130 million.

But with the advent of the major networks GSM, MTN, ZAIN, GLO and others, the number of subscribers skyrocketed to more than 50 million. Currently, there is an increase in the demand for mobile Internet access which has been made possible by various packet data access technologies such as GPRS, 3G and HSPDA.

The most amazing thing right now is that the cost of access has also been drastically reduced. This means that in countries like Nigeria, where around 8 years of democracy have led to the rise of a new middle class, anyone with a desktop or laptop with a proper mobile phone can now chat, browse websites, check email, trade stocks and take actions. online classes even in remote rural areas.

What are the requirements to access the Internet wirelessly through mobile phones?

Step 1

You must have a phone that supports access to packet data. Mobile phone manufacturers such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung offer a wide range of mobile phones that vary in sophistication and cost.

Step 2

You must have data packages enabled on your mobile phone network. In Nigeria, MTN, GLO and Zain offer a mix of GPRS, EDGE, 3G and 3.5G or HSPDA.

Step 3

Your phone must be configured to browse the mobile Internet. This can be done manually or automatically depending on your service provider and the model of your cell phone. Usually, you request the settings from your mobile access provider and save them automatically or enter them manually.

Stage 4

Once you are done with Step 3, you can browse on your cell phone using the default browser that comes with it or with a third-party browser like Opera Mini, UC Web, or Teashark that you install.

step 5

These packet data enabled mobile phones are capable of acting as modems for your PC or laptop. You can connect your mobile phone wirelessly to your PC/laptop via Bluetooth or USB cable.

Either way, some PCs and laptops may already have the necessary drivers installed. But even if they don’t, just install the necessary drivers and enter a few settings and you’re good to go.

The above steps apply to mobile internet access anywhere in the world, not just MTN, GLO or Zain subscribers in Nigeria, as long as what you are using is a cell phone.