Imagine a tourist standing at the foot of Everest who has just taken a photo and instantly sent it to his friends via a 4G network. This image, which until recently seemed like a fantasy, now reflects the astonishing reality of Nepal. The country, sandwiched between the world's highest peaks, is making an impressive technological leap that experts call "leapfrogging."
The essence of this phenomenon is simple: instead of consistently going through all the stages of technological development, as industrial countries did, developing countries skip over outdated and expensive technologies, immediately introducing the most modern solutions. A classic example is the abandonment of expensive landline telephone lines in favor of the rapid deployment of mobile communications.
Nepal has become one of the most striking examples of this “leapfrogging.” The country has turned its geographic and infrastructural limitations into a unique advantage, becoming a real testing ground for innovation based on a “mobile-first” approach — when mobile technologies become the main, not secondary, channel for the delivery of services. From finance and healthcare to education and government services, a mobile phone in the hands of a Nepali has become the key to a new digital era.
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By Alpha Business MediaImagine a tourist standing at the foot of Everest who has just taken a photo and instantly sent it to his friends via a 4G network. This image, which until recently seemed like a fantasy, now reflects the astonishing reality of Nepal. The country, sandwiched between the world's highest peaks, is making an impressive technological leap that experts call "leapfrogging."
The essence of this phenomenon is simple: instead of consistently going through all the stages of technological development, as industrial countries did, developing countries skip over outdated and expensive technologies, immediately introducing the most modern solutions. A classic example is the abandonment of expensive landline telephone lines in favor of the rapid deployment of mobile communications.
Nepal has become one of the most striking examples of this “leapfrogging.” The country has turned its geographic and infrastructural limitations into a unique advantage, becoming a real testing ground for innovation based on a “mobile-first” approach — when mobile technologies become the main, not secondary, channel for the delivery of services. From finance and healthcare to education and government services, a mobile phone in the hands of a Nepali has become the key to a new digital era.