Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity

Connected Society
Innovation Fund for
Rural Connectivity

<p>Connected Society <br />Innovation Fund for <br />Rural Connectivity</p>

The partnerships between MTN Uganda and iSat Africa, and Vodafone Ghana and NuRAN Wireless, have now brought life-enhancing mobile coverage to up to 50,000 people in several deep rural communities.

The Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity, which is funded by UK aid from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was set up to expand digital inclusion in rural areas through innovative new technology solutions.

The winning vendors, NuRAN Wireless and iSat Africa, were each allocated over £330,000 to showcase innovation in passive equipment, radio access networks (RAN), power, backhaul, and business models that would improve the commercial feasibility of rural connectivity. All 12 of their 2G and 3G network sites in Ghana and Uganda are now live.

Find out about the winning vendors by clicking on the logos below and read more in this blog.

Accelerating Rural Connectivity: Insights from the GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity

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Thursday 5 Jan 2023 | Connected Society | English | Ghana | GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity | Innovation fund and grants | Report | Rural network coverage | Sub-Saharan Africa | Uganda |

This report outlines the solutions implemented by the grantees of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity and looks at the performance and impact of the sites deployed, as well as the lessons learnt and key recommendations.

Photo Gallery: Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity – Build Phase

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Thursday 25 Feb 2021 | Connected Society | Ghana | GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity | Sub-Saharan Africa | Uganda |

A selection of photos from the build phase of the Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity, supplied by the vendors.

Innovators creating impact: Virtual insights from the ground featuring NuRAN Wireless

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Monday 28 Sep 2020 | Connected Society | Ghana | GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity | Rural network coverage | Sub-Saharan Africa | Video |

NuRAN Wireless is one of the grantees of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity. In this short video, NuRAN illustrates the process from the initial cutting of metal for the towers through to the completed sites.

An interview with MTN Uganda’s CEO: The GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity

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Monday 15 Jun 2020 | Connected Society | English | GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity | Rural network coverage | Sub-Saharan Africa | Uganda | Video |

Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO of MTN Uganda, discusses the importance of bringing connectivity to rural communities, and highlights the role of innovation in making rural connectivity more commercially sustainable.

Introducing the winners of the GSMA Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity

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Thursday 2 Apr 2020 | Connected Society | English | Ghana | GSMA Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity | Innovation fund and grants | Rural network coverage | Sub-Saharan Africa | Uganda | Video |

In this video, learn about the project's main purpose and participants. Hear interviews with Vodafone Ghana, MTN Uganda, GIFEC, and the Chief of Abodom, a community in rural Ghana connected by previous collaboration between GIFEC and the mobile industry.

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How NuRAN and the GSMA are working together to bridge the rural network divide in Ghana

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The Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity, which is funded by UK aid from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was set up to expand digital inclusion in rural areas through innovative technology solutions. In this blog series, we will ...

Up to 50,000 people from rural communities gain access to mobile coverage through newly deployed network sites in Ghana and Uganda

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The Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity, which is funded by UK aid from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), was set up to expand digital inclusion in rural areas through innovative new technology solutions. We are delighted that the ...

This initiative is currently funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and supported by the GSMA and its members.
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