The potential of mobile for improved access to rural energy in Mali

As part of the GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities programme’s activities, we conduct market assessment studies for our mobile operator (MNOs) members. Collaborating with Orange Mali, we completed a study to assess the potential for mobile to play a role in improving access to rural energy in the country. The energy access gap in the Sahel region is considerable and in Mali, only 26 per cent of the population has access to electricity, leaving 11 million people off the grid (International Energy Agency, 2015). By contrast, the mobile sector is dynamic with a high coverage of over 90 per cent of the population.

In this light, innovative local and international decentralised energy providers are beginning to leverage the ubiquity of mobile technology to tackle the region’s challenge, encouraged by the positive results of pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar models in East Africa. Partnerships between these providers, who possess sector expertise, and forward-thinking MNOs, such as Orange Mali, can become part of the solution.

This report, available in English and French, highlights some key findings from our research and offers recommendations to MNOs, decentralised energy providers, and government and international institutions interested in leveraging mobile to help close the energy access gap in Mali and beyond.

Read the full report in English

Lire le rapport complet en Français

 

The GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities Programme is currently funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and supported by the GSMA and its members.

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