Rural Bangladeshis who own mobile phones earn significantly more from non-farming activities than those without one, underscoring how digital connectivity is reshaping livelihoods outside agriculture, according to a new study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The study, "Mobile Phones, Off-farm Income, and Employment of Rural Women," found that women with mobile phones earn on average Tk 188 more per month from off-farm work, a 153 percent increase compared with non-owners in 2012.

For men, the income gain is even higher, at Tk 3,443, or 163 percent more than their counterparts without phones.

The sharp rise in rural earnings is attributed to rapid mobile network expansion, growing digital services, and the increasing urbanisation of Bangladesh's rural economy, said the study.

Mobile ownership, it noted, enables individuals to access market information, find jobs, and manage small-scale enterprises more efficiently.

The study was conducted based on the Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS), collected by the International Food Policy Research Institute.

The BIHS is a nationally representative panel survey in rural Bangladesh, which enables researchers to conduct a comprehensive study in a South Asian country.

The study also highlights that education plays a key role in how much benefit people can derive from mobile phone ownership.

"Women who have completed secondary education tend to earn more, suggesting that better-educated users are more capable of using phones productively from managing microbusinesses to learning new skills online," said the study.

At the same time, the research found that poorer households actually benefit more from mobile ownership.

For families with limited assets, a phone often becomes a critical income-generating tool, enabling home-based businesses, agricultural services, or digital money transfers.

Notably, distance from urban centres did not reduce the income benefits of mobile ownership, suggesting that connectivity is helping bridge geographic and infrastructural divides.

"This finding suggests that mobile technology could overcome spatial barriers to information and job access, potentially contributing to more inclusive rural development," said the study.

The study highlights the strong and positive impact of women's mobile phone ownership (WMPO) on rural income and employment in Bangladesh.

Overall, the study underscores the potential of digital connectivity to enhance women's economic participation and transform rural livelihoods in developing economies.

"As digital transformation continues to reshape the economic landscape, policymakers should consider using these tools to address gender disparities in economic opportunities and contribute to more inclusive rural development," it said.