Two decades ago this month, North Koreans in Pyongyang and Rason were the first in the nation to get a taste of cellular telephony. In a country where landline phones were still the exception rather than the rule, mobile communications had the potential to revolutionize the way people communicate.

Data from recent interviews with North Korean escapees conducted by the authors indicates that cellphone usage is now ubiquitous; not only is it used for communication with friends and family, but it underpins North Korean’s private economy—a vital tool for communicating with suppliers, buyers and distributors necessary to do business.

In addition, this is not exclusive to Pyongyang or major cities. Data from the 38 North Digital Atlas shows the cellular network covers vast stretches of the country, extending well beyond urban areas into rural North Korea. Interviews with recent escapees corroborate smartphone ownership is larger than previously reported, potentially between 50 and 80 percent of the adult population.

As a result, despite the increased possibility for state surveillance through cellphone usage, mobile communication has become an integral and indispensable part of North Korean daily life.

Read the full article on 38 North.