The Synergies between Mobile Phone Access and Off Grid Energy Solutions

The Synergies between Mobile Phone Access and Off Grid Energy Solutions

Presenter: Michael Nique, (GSMA, United Kingdom)

Overview

Mobile connectivity has grown beyond the electricity grid in most emerging markets:the slow growth of grid access over the last 10 years compared to the rapid expansion of mobile networks has widened the existing gap between access to mobile and access to electricity. The GSMA estimates that this gap is equivalent to more than 643 million people covered by mobile networks without access to electricity, representing up to 53% of the global off grid population. According to five mobile channels, namely the off grid telecom tower infrastructure, mobile operators distribution networks, machine to machine connectivity, mobile payments and mobile services, the mobile industry offers innovative pathways to achieve reliable energy access for currently underserved communities.