Africa and Asia are urbanising at an unprecedentedly rapid rate accounting for 90 per cent of the world’s urban population growth. The impact of this will be greatest on the urban poor, as the municipal services that are already under pressure are unable to keep up with growing demands. However, innovative start-ups that leverage the reach of mobile connectivity and the proliferation of digital solutions across the continent have the capacity to help improve access to reliable electricity, safely managed drinking water, and safely managed sanitation services. This panel brought together government, innovators, corporates and mobile operators to discuss these challenges and the role that mobile-enabled innovations can play in supporting more affordable and more reliable service provision for the urban poor.