According to the British Broadcasting Network and the United Nations, nearly half a million people considered to be "the poorest of the poor" soon will have access to mobile phones. As part of a United Nations program to tackle poverty in rural Africa, 79 villages across 10 African countries will be hooked up to cellular networks. The phones, network infrastructure, and solar chargers have been provided free of charge by mobile firm Ericsson. Services will be run and charged for by local operators. It is hoped that the connections will help to improve healthcare and education while boosting the local economy and entrepreneurship. A 2005 study showed that an increase of 10 mobile phones per 100 people could increase the Gross Domestic Product by 0.6% (Fildes, 2007).