News
$40 Smartphone Initiative Aims to Connect 20 Million
A coalition of telecom operators and device makers is pushing ultra-affordable $40 smartphones to bridge the digital divide, but rising component costs threaten the plan.
Key Takeaways
- Coalition targets $40 price point using Android Go and MediaTek chipsets to connect unconnected populations
- Rising semiconductor and display costs have added $3-5 per unit since planning phase
- Telecom operators subsidize devices through bundled airtime packages with 12-month commitments
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DT Editorial AI··via techcrunch.com