Lilongwe Water Board
The project is about development of an alternative water payment solution for communal water points in peri-urban areas using mobile money. Use of water codes purchased through mobile money will enable water users to access water 24/7. Elimination of an intermediate water seller will lead to a reduction in water cost by 64%.
Resources
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Testimonial
"We are of the view that the whole community will benefit as a result of reduced water price due to roll out of those automatic vending devices." - Village Headman Mitengo of Area 22
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Wonderkid Multimedia Ltd
Wonderkid will customize and deploy the IMUM (Integrated Mobile Utility Management) solution to four water utilities (Kisumu Water, Muranga Water, Nanyuki Water and Kakamega Busia Water) in Kenya to support mobile meter reading, self-meter reading and complaint management. The utilities partnership grant aims to test the viability of using mobile-enabled solutions with various utilities to improve operational efficiencies and customer service.
Resources
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Testimonial
"We see this opportunity immediately benefiting over 800,000 Kenyans with improved water services and better quality of life by leveraging on Mobile Technology - and millions soon thereafter." - Daniel Kamiri, Director, Wonderkid Multimedia
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SMS Energy Services Ltd
Smart Metering Systems Ltd will develop and deploy a mobile-enabled turnkey meter-to-cash solution for utilities supporting rural electrification in Kenya. The seed grant will test whether by using an independent cross-sector mediation platform, mobile operators’ existing prepaid billing and collections infrastructure can be used to service other industries such as utilities.
Resources
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Testimonial
"The Kiangurwe rural electricity project allows us to demonstrate Mobile4Energy’s turnkey Meter to Cash Prepay solution under the same conditions African and Asian Utilities are facing every day, reducing revenue leakage and overall cost to serve." - Jason Simpson, Co-Founder, Mobile4Energy
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Loowatt Ltd
Loowatt will develop and test an ICT platform and mobile application to improve the coordination of waste collection logistics and customer service associated to their waterless toilets for households in an urban area of Antananarivo, Madagascar. The seed grant aims to prove the value of ICT and mobile services on reducing the cost of waste logistics, improving the likelihood of safe waste disposal and collecting mobile payments from customers for their sanitation needs.
Resources
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Testimonials
“Our mobile ICT platform aims to empower local urban sanitation operators by improving cost efficiency and verifying the provision of safe and sustainable waste treatment.” – Virginia Gardiner, CEO, Loowatt Ltd.Read more
Sanergy, Inc.
Sanergy, in partnership with SweetSense, will develop and test the use of sensors to determine the fill levels of Fresh Life Toilets, operator-owned waterless toilets designed for informal settlements. The seed grant will aim to test whether sensor technology works in the sanitation environment and is appropriate to optimise waste collection routes and reduce operating costs.
Resources
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Testimonial
"In partnership with GSMA, Sanergy is testing how we can use sensors in our Fresh Life Toilets to optimize our waste collection process thus increase the availability of toilets for users” - Ani Vallabhaneni, Co-founder, Sanergy
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Devergy East Africa Ltd
Devergy, in partnership with Tigo Tanzania, will scale their low-cost solar-PV micro-grids to provide access to basic lighting, charging and appliances to rural communities. This market validation grant will test the opportunities to integrate energy distribution with mobile distribution including the impact on mobile phone usage and mobile money uptake.
Resources
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Testimonial
"We are very proud to be contributing to the growth of the rural energy sector in East Africa, and are confident our partnership with Tigo will grow well beyond this initial step."- Fabio De Pascale, Chief Energising Officer, Devergy
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Product Health Ltd
Product Health will provide remote battery monitoring to three solar home system (SHS) manufacturers and distributors in Tanzania (NIWA), Bangladesh (BGEF) and Kenya (Barefoot Power). The seed grant will test the value of remote monitoring and Smart Batteries for producers and distributors of SHS for improving battery performance, reducing OPEX and supporting pre-emptive customer service and sales.
Resources
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Testimonial
"This funding is a fantastic opportunity to broaden our reach and learn more about our customer’s real-world needs and requirements. It is also an opportunity to validate and demonstrate the business case for remotely connected and monitored batteries in the Solar Home System market." - Tamara Giltsoff, Founder Director, Product Health Ltd.
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Upande Ltd
Upande, building from their previous work, will partner with BRCK and Kericho Water and Sanitation Company (KEWASCO) to develop and implement WaSHGIS 1.0, including a dashboard, job card, alert modules and low-cost solar-powered data loggers. The seed grant will test the value of a real time monitoring system to reduce non-revenue water losses for KEWASCO.
Resources
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Testimonial
"With the GSMA grant, we are able to transform our prototype into a real product, as well as help seed local low cost data logger development. The Internet of Things (IoT) for African utilities is becoming a reality, one month at a time." - Mark de Blois, CEO and Founder, Upande Limited
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Brighterlite Norway AS
Brighterlite, in partnership with Telenor Myanmar, will provide solar home systems through a fee for service model, using Telenor Myanmar’s agent network for acquiring customers and collecting payments. The seed grant will test the viability and impact of launching a mobile-enabled service in a green-field market.
Resources
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Testimonial
"Brighterlite is testing mobile-enabled sales of renewable electricity to off-grid households in Myanmar. It is a challenging country to do business in, but the GSMA grant will certainly enable us to road-test our product and service offering and our payment solution.’’ - Martin Hamann, CEO, Brighterlite Myanmar
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Gham Power Nepal Private Limited
Gham Power, in partnership with NCell, will install solar micro-grids to provide energy to mobile towers, households and businesses, bringing energy access and mobile connectivity to remote communities in Nepal. This seed grant will test the impacts of mobile access and energy access on local businesses and the financial viability of this business model.
Testimonial
“We are excited about the impact of introducing access to electricity, telecom and data to these areas all at the same time. Enabling an inter-related suite of new services and their collective viability under the current financing structure can set an example for rural electrification and telecom services." - Barrett Raftery, VP of Business Development, Gham Power
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Africa Water Enterprises
Africa Water Enterprises will repair broken water systems and install eWATERtaps in villages in rural Gambia. Users buy eWATERcredit either directly onto NFC phones or via women water entrepreneurs using a tag and pay $0.09 cents per 20 litres. An App will allow retailers to buy credit direct from QCell via SMS text and convert this to water credit. Funds are used to pay for professional maintenance and repairs with the aim of overcoming the tragedy of broken water supply systems in villages.
Resources
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Testimonial
"We believe that with this fantastic grant funding from GSMA will enable the eWATERtap to revolutionise rural water supplies in Africa, ending the current catastrophe of broken taps and hand pumps scattered across rural villages." - Alison Wedgwood, CEO, Africa Water Entrerprises
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Dialog Axiata PLC
The objectives of this project are to offer smart metering to the domestic market and improve power distribution network monitoring capability. The smart meters will also be used to introduce a prepaid metering facility to the Sri Lankan market. The project will run in an identified Green Energy Zone where 3200 smart meters will be deployed with 10% operating in prepaid mode. In addition, about 144 distribution network monitoring points will be established within the zone.
Resources
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Testimonial
"With this funding Dialog will leverage its state-of-the-art mobile technology and services to improve access to electricity as we strive to influence national level adoption of smart metering, prepaid metering and power distribution network monitoring in Sri Lanka." - CEO, Dialog
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KopaGas
KopaGas is developing the next generation LPG canisters and meters equipped with M2M technology that will enable medium and low-income households to switch from dirty and expensive charcoal to ultra clean LPG. Our business model eliminates upfront costs and allows women to pre-pay for the quantities of gas that fit their budget, improving greatly their economy and their family health.
Through this grant, KopaGas will validate fundamental market and operational assumptions to strengthen the ‘Pay-as-you-Go’ business model for scale with an objective to provide safe and affordable clean cooking fuels to low income customers. The project will integrate a large network of B2B distribution partners into the ‘Pay as you Go’ operations to increase efficiencies and sales. KopaGas is also partnering with Airtel to roll-out a Cash-Back Program that seeks to create a positive customer behaviour and increase stickiness to both Airtel and KopaGas services.Resources
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Testimonial
"Thanks to this grant, KopaGas will be able to finalize the development of our M2M technology required for a scalable model to sell cooking gas in small quantities, with the most convenience for medium and low income households." - Co-Founder and CEO KopaGas, Sebastian Rodriguez
"This grant will help KopaGas to scale its products and operations in Tanzania and deepen our relations with the leading Mobile Network Operators. KopaGas has created a complete new segment for the Clean Cooking by digitizing the LPG value chain— our current work and sustained growth in Tanzania put us on track to change the lives of 1 million people by 2020 with cleaner and more affordable fuels. " - Sebastian Rodriguez, CEO"Read more
ME SOLshare Ltd
ME SOLshare has developed a smart grid concept that is targeted for the Global South and has been tailored to the Bangladeshi market: a smart DC microgrid that manages and meters power flows between rural households and businesses. Solar panels and decentralized storage systems are added incrementally in a step by step manner so that supply is guaranteed while avoiding sunk costs of earlier investment.
Resources
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Testimonial
"SOLshare sets up smart microgrids that manage and meter power flows between rural households, enabling increased electricity access for everyone. We may well be on the cutting edge of one of the most exciting energy opportunities of the 21st century." - CEO, ME SOLshare, Sebastian Groh
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d.light
d.light has developed a business model designed to simultaneously drive mobile money adoption and expand energy access in Haiti. In partnership with ReVolt, d.light will offer energy as a service to customers, leveraging Digicel’s existing network of Tcho Tcho mobile money agents as points of sale for their energy as a service offering. Part of the process of registering an account with Re-Volt will include registering for a mobile money account. This Market Validation grant will test how the adoption of d.light’s energy offering will drive adoption of mobile money, providing a use-case for maintaining an active account over time.
Resources
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Testimonial
"Through this project, we are hoping to demonstrate that PAYG solar can drive mobile money adoption in markets with low mobile money penetration. This will show that the viability of the PAYG business model is not limited to countries that already have vibrant mobile money markets." - Karl Skare, Director of New Business Initiatives, d.light
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Safe Water Network
Since its founding in 2006, Safe Water Network has focused on solving the twin challenges of drinking water quality and sustainability. A comprehensive model of water supply is anchored by the Safe Water Station – a community-level water treatment facility that produces high-quality water sold at affordable rates. This project will use mobile data collection to improve both the monitoring of water points and response to maintenance issues for better water service delivery to small towns and peri-urban Ghanaian communities.
Safe Water Network aims to launch mobile money services and machine-to-machine connectivity for water ATMs and prepaid household meters in partnership with MTN Ghana. Through this use of mobile technology, they will be able to scale and improve access to water services for residents of Ghana.Resources
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Testimonial
"We believe mobile monitoring will play a critical role in improving operations and reducing the costs of water service delivery for millions in need, served by Safe Water Network and others in the water sector." - CEO, Safe Water Network, Kurt Soderlund
"In partnership with GSMA, we're using mobile innovations to reduce costs and simplify collections for our consumers. This is essential for enabling the scale-up of safe water for more than a billion people in need globally." - Kurt Soderlund, CEO Read more
SNV
The Bright Lights for Benin project will catalyse the PAYG solar market in Benin by linking Greenlight Planet PAYG products with a ready-made solar supply chain. The project builds on a successful 18 month partnership between SNV and MTN to develop a solar distribution network. It introduces PAYG solar to Benin for the first time and expects to sell 9,000 PAYG products over 18 months via sustainable business model. The government of Benin has agreed to provide tax exemption on all products imported under the project.
Resources
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Testimonial
"This initiative is perfectly aligned with MTN’s philosophy of doing good business as a corporate citizen; it improves the livelihoods of our customers, reduces the use of unsafe and polluting products, and helps MTN expand its services.” - Mr Nicolas Gomez, Head of Corporate Services, MTN.Read more
SunCulture
SunCulture designs and sells solar-powered irrigation systems that make it cheaper and easier for farmers in Kenya to grow high-value fresh fruits and vegetables. The RainMaker is a solar powered irrigation system targeting the mass market of underserved small holder farmers, utilising pay as you go technology to ensure affordability and thereby extending access to water pumping solutions to underserved communities in the developing world (starting with Kenya).
Resources
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Read their guest blog on Iterative Design for Eventual Affordability.
Testimonial
"By 2030, our planet will be home to over 8 billion people. The world’s 450 million smallholder farmers, most of whom live in the developing world, must adapt new technologies to keep up with growing food demands." - SunCulture CEO, Samir Ibrahim
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Village Infrastructure Angels
VIA’s goal is to provide energy for lighting and productive uses to offgrid communities in developing countries. The use of telecom services and infrastructure has been well proven for small consumer-level loads like lighting, phone charging and TVs, but not yet for community-level productive loads such as agro-processing mills, refrigeration and carpentry tools. Vanuatu suffered a direct hit by a massive typhoon in March 2015, and these solar powered Light Industry Centres will help with reconstruction efforts.
Resources
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Testimonial
"Poor people in Sumba spend valuable long hours on relatively easy tasks such as milling of maize. Using VIA’s small scale solar solutions can change the lives of these people drastically." - Mr Eco Matser, Global Coordinator for Energy and Development, Hivos
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Manobi
mWater™ aims to improve rural and small town water pipe system (WPS) performance in Benin, and ultimately across Africa through the provision of (i) financial, (ii) business, and (iii) assistance mobile 2 web added value services to WPS operators. The project plans to introduce these new services to the present 150 mWater™ WPSs within 15 months, reaching 3.6 million people in 46 municipalities in 10 regions across the country.
Resources
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Testimonial
"The mWater(TM) platform enables better asset management and service analysis. Impressive scaling has been achieved through balancing a focus on water service providers’ needs, with standardising reporting, implementing each component of the platform in a modular manner, and a public/private cost sharing business model for a financially sustainable service." - World Bank Benin
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Mobisol
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Testimonial
"Together with GSMA, we've created productive-use opportunities for thousands of Rwandese micro-entrepreneurs. The MobiCharger is a real value proposition – with an additional income of $35 per month it fosters economic activity and has a long-term impact on rural communities" - Thomas Gottschalk, CEO Mobisol Group
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Portland State University
Portland State University, working in partnership with Living Water International (LWI) and SweetSense Inc, and with support from MTN Rwanda and the Government of Rwanda conducted a pilot of Machine-to-Machine, GSM- enabled sensors to monitor functionality of LWI managed hand pumps for improved maintenance. The seed grant sought to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of using real-time information to improve maintenance services for reduced downtime and improved functionality of rural hand pump services.
Resources
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Testimonial
"With support from GSMA, we were able to demonstrate that cellular connected sensors can help improve water point servicing in rural villages in Rwanda. Together with Living Water International, we were able to increase water pump functionality from an average of 56% to over 91%. Critically, we showed that this approach can be more cost effective when considering the value of reliable water services to communities." - Evan Thomas, Associate Professor at Portland State University and Founder of SWEETSense Inc.
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M-KOPA
M-KOPA, in partnership with Safaricom, trialled a new pay-as-you-go solar product to the Kenyan market targeted at small entrepreneurs. The market validation grant is testing whether the repayment behaviours of the target customers are strong enough to support further credit-based energy financing for SMEs.
Resources
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Testimonial
“We’re incredibly proud to have been an anchor partner for M-KOPA Solar and see this Kenyan success story go global. The true power of mobile technology lies in its ability to enable access essential services for millions of people. M-KOPA’s ability to offer affordable, safe and clean energy through a mobile solution has enabled us to create the genesis of a new economy that promises to include groups who have been previously marginalized.” – Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom Limited.
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Development Workshop Angola
Development Workshop Angola, in partnership with SeeSaw, trialled a suite of mobile enabled tools to evaluate the effectiveness of peri-urban water delivery in Huambo. The seed grant tested the use of mobile technology to report service delivery issues in informal settlements leeading to improved maintenance and service delivery.
Resources
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Testimonial
The Luanda Government (the capital city) has shown continued interest in VerAgua and is now supporting the replication of the services there, with the lessons learned from this pilot leading to improved design and implementation. Implementation in Luanda began in August 2015 for reporting on the status of the city’s network of community water points. To date, caretakers have reported more regularly and funds have been made available for timely repairs. GSMA, 2015
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NextDrop
NextDrop built and trialled a Water Information System (WIS) for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to track, monitor and validate water distribution timings, frequency or duration in real time in 40% of the city. The system is based on two-way communications between BWSSB and city residents. This Seed grant tested whether real-time information improves the reliability of water supply and ensures equitable distribution.
Resources
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Testimonial
"The key objectives of the grant were to fund the development and deployment of an information system to make the operations of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) more transparent, improve service levels and make water distribution more equitable. Despite challenges such as a valvemen’s strike and an outdated piped network map, NextDrop achieved its targets on schedule with key lessons on the acceptance of smartphones among first-time users and incentives to motivate adoption of a technology solution.” GSMA, 2015
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Fenix International
Fenix International, in partnership with MTN Uganda, scaled their new pay-as-you-go system “ReadyPay Power” to enable solar-powered lighting and phone charging. This market validation grant tested the introduction of ReadyPay home and business products through joint marketing and distribution with MTN.
Resources
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Testimonial
”People perceive MTN as a strong, authentic brand. They associate MTN with quality. In a market that has been abused by cheap, low quality products, the MTN brand provides Fenix with more acceptance than if we were selling on our own. Whenever we show up in an MTN van, a crowd assembles and we have an audience to talk to about Fenix. MTN also benefits from its association with Fenix. We have had many people say that MTN cares for them because it goes beyond the normal practice of pushing airtime and connections. It solves a critical need by bringing them safe and affordable energy.” - Calvin Kaumi, National Sales Manager for Fenix
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Africa Solar Designs
African Solar Designs, in partnership with Airtel Kenya, set out to provide renewable power to an Airtel base station and also electrify a nearby community though a micro-grid for businesses and an energy kiosk for households to access charging and solar products. This seed grant attempted to trial the community power from mobile model, generating lessons about this business opportunity for a rural energy service company.
Resources
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Testimonial
"ASD learned two key lessons about using base stations as anchor loads during this work. First, there is a huge difference between community energy access and 100% no-risk supply of power to large telecoms. Secondly, we learned that the A-B-C model has a large potential. However, until the idea is scaled, telecoms may not be first to invest. ASD's business model pursues mini-grid opportunities where there is a potential to reach both commercial clients and communities." - Mark Hankins, CEO, African Solar Designs, Ltd.
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Emergence BioEnergy / Grassroot Energy
Emergence BioEnergy (EBI), in partnership with Grameenphone, tested EBI’s Stirling generator to produce electricity from agricultural waste for telecom towers and surrounding communities. This Seed grant trialed reliable power generation by small-scale biogas plants and tested the supply chain.
Resources
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Testimonial
"The GSMA's grant enabled the trial of a promising high-risk new technology. This proved to be an extremely ambitious goal for a 12-month project because EBI tried to solve technological, operational and business challenges all at once. Nonetheless, the trial led to important learnings, including the need for a high level of on-ground technical expertise, existing barriers in the fertiliser market and infrastructural challenges in generating electricity from biomass." - GSMA, 2015.
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Kamworks
Kamworks Limited, in partnership with WING, a mobile money operator, and CamGSM (through its Cellcard brand) tested sale and rental of solar home systems in Cambodia. The Seed grant helped trial the technology, tested the value proposition and study payment behaviour in the Cambodian market.
Resources
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Testimonial
Thanks to GSMA, Kamworks has been able to complete the development of its PAYGO solar home system technology and to demonstrate it in the field, making solar more affordable and accessible to rural households in Cambodia. Jeroen Verschelling, Chairman and Co-Founder, Kamworks Ltd.
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Persistent Energy Ghana
Persistent Energy Ghana, in partnership with Tigo, Airtel and MTN, provided pre-paid solar energy services to six villages in Ghana using a micro-grid system and solar home systems within one business. Both technologies had already been tested and were being used in Tanzania. This market validation grant tested the possibility of scaling an energy service business in a new market more quickly by applying proven, third party technologies.
Resources
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Testimonial
GSMA's grant gave PEG the ability to experiment, make mistakes, and take risks. This was exactly what we needed in order to figure out the kinds of things that would make licensing for off-grid solar work effectively.' - Hugh Whalan, CEO, PEG
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Lumos
Lumos partnered with MTN Nigeria to launch a new pay-as-you-go solar product that used aitime for pre-payments. In this seed grant, large and modular solar home systems were targeted to home and small business users. Lessons were generated about customer demand and pricing in these markets and benefits to mobile operators associated with a more significant role.
Resources
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Testimonial
“Digital inclusion of any kind is underpinned by consumer access to electricity. We therefore view our partnership with Lumos as an essential enabler in the attainment of MTN Nigeria’s strategic vision of delivering a bold new digital for its customers.” - Henry Okoede SM, Business Development MTN Nigeria
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Telenor Pakistan
Easypaisa, a joint venture of Telenor Pakistan and Tameer Bank introduced an affordable solar energy service to low income groups through vendor partners who either sold or rented solar home systems. The Seed grant helped Easypaisa to validate the business case for its unique offering that leveraged its extensive distribution network and mobile money service. The grant also enabled Easypaisa to refine its methodology to identify credit worthy customers.
Resources
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Testimonial
“In this day and age, where every four months a technology is declared obsolete, it is unfortunate that many in Pakistan are deprived of the basic need to light a bulb in their houses. Easypaisa, since inception has been dedicated towards empowering societies, partnering with Solar to bring electricity; a basic necessity, to many households was considered quite a worthy opportunity. We have brought brightness to many households and this has only been made possible with the help of GSMA’s generous grant. We are proud to be a payment partner in this cause and look forward to expanding these projects to an even bigger stretch of population in the future." - Muhammad Yahya Khan, Chief Financial Services Officer (CFSO), EasypaisaRead more
EcoEnergy
EcoEnergy tested the viability of its distribution models for PAYG solar lanterns and solar home systems (SHS) in Pakistan. EcoEnergy used UBL Omni's mobile money service to collect payments; tested the utility of a global roaming SIM versus a local SIM in its GSM-enabled SHSs; and evaluated the viability of distributing products that appeal to vastly different customer segments.
Resources
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Testimonial
"The grant from the GSMA was crucial for us in determining the viability of PAYG solar technology in the context of Pakistan. Based on this experience, we've shifted our product line to be made entirely of PAYG solar products and appliances." - Jeremy Higgs, Co-founder, EcoEnergy
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Vitalite
Vitalite will offer smartphones and cookstoves for Vitalite solar home system customers in Zambia. The smartphones will be sold on a pay-as-you-go basis, improving affordability of smartphone devices, while the improved cook stoves will provide clean and affordable energy.
Resources
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Testimonial
"VITALITE, in partnership with GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities Innovation Fund, will be pioneering Zambia's first PAY AS YOU GO smart phone as an add-on product to our PAYGO solar offering. This is an important step in advancing connectivity to the internet in rural Zambia, and positive step in developing my country.” - William Makubalo, Project Lead
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Orange Burkina Faso
Orange is piloting pre-paid smart metering on mini-grids in partnership with SINCO, a cooperative that manages electricity distribution through rural grids. This smart metering, software-as-a-service solution will enable SINCO’s customers to manage their energy expenditure. This prevents households from being regularly disconnected after single-instalment, post-paid bills exceed their ability to pay. The smart-meter solution will leverage mobile money, machine-to-machine connectivity, SMS and other mobile technologies.
Resources
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Testimonial
"Mobile along with energy supply can significantly change lives of people in our country and we’re strongly committed to make this happen for as much as possible. With this grant from the GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities Innovation Fund, Orange Burkina Faso will be able to deploy a smart metering solution in rural area where only 3% have access to electricity, with sometime flexible and low cost billing & collection solution is a barrier for energy service provider. The power of smart-metering along with our strong mobile money ecosystem, accessible everywhere in the country, is a unique winning combination that will certainly erase energy supply entry barrier in remote areas." - Ben Cheick HAIDARA, CEO Orange Burkina Faso
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CityTaps
CityTaps has developed a smart prepaid water meter to enable the urban poor to access running water at home. The meter incorporates mobile money and M2M technologies, which allows households to make micro-prepayments for their water at any time using mobile money. The project will see SEEN trial the technology across Niamey, Niger.
Resources
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Testimonial
"GSMA’s grant will help CityTaps expand its service and impact 10 500 more people without running water at home" - Grégoire Landel CEO and Founder CityTaps Read more
Drinkwell
Drinkwell will use their GSMA grant to scale the use of their Water ATM-enabled system to provide improved water services to residents of Dhaka, Bangladesh who currently lack access to affordable, safe drinking water.
Resources
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Watch their video hereTestimonial
"Drinkwell is thrilled to scale our innovative water atm-enabled filtration system across Dhaka in partnership with Robi and Dhaka WASA, a leading water utility that is on track to become the first megacity in Asia/Africa to provide 100% legal access to safe water for all citizens. We are excited to grow this partnership that will help Bangladesh achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 around the provision of safe water and sanitation for all by 2030." - Minhaj Chowdhury, Founder and CEO
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Kampala Capital City Authority
The purpose of this grant is to improve access to safe and reliable feacal sludge collection and transportation services for the residents in the informal settlements of Kampala city, Uganda. The grant will upgrade the pilot GIS tracking system enabled by a mobile application and call center, build capacity and promote pit emptying business in partnership with National Water and Sewerage Corporation, GIZ and the private emptiers associations that will use information and mobile technology (including mobile money) to empty pit latrines.
Resources
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Testimonial
"KCCA is pleased to be selected among the winners of the GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities Grant. This grant will be used to enhance public participation in ensuring quality service delivery in sanitation and waste management" - Jennifer Semakula Musisi, Ph.D, Executive Director, Kampala Capital City Authority.Read more
Practical Action Bangladesh
The purpose of the grant is to launch a mobile based utility services platform in partnership with Practical Action Bangladesh, Robi Axiata Ltd and municipalities that will use mobile technology to provide improved water and sanitation related utility services to the residents of the municipalities. This platform will give customers convenience to request for municipal services using their mobile phones and pay using Robi cash mobile wallet.
Resources
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Testimonial
"With tele-penetration of 83% and internet penetration of 45%, Bangladesh is well poised to meet its vision of turning the country into a Digital one. In this backdrop, our M4D utilities project makes very effective use of digital service delivery mechanism to deliver municipality service leveraging on the strength and availability of the telecom infrastructure. The digital solution is envisaged to create job opportunity for the water, sanitation and hygiene-related service providers while strengthening the local governance framework, in the process. We are very confident that, going forward, this project will also facilitate accelerated socio-economic development at the local level in the country."- CEO, Robi Axiata "Practical Action has years of exclusive experience in implementing city-wide Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) services. We have introduced e-FSM services through which, anyone can request for pit emptying services using a web application and a dedicated call centre. Building on this, we are launching 1Service application in affiliation with Robi Axiata ltd., one of the largest telecom operators in the country. 1Service digitally offers an integrated municipal utility services including, but are not limited to, water supply, sanitation, waste management and FSM in 3 cities, ensuring customer satisfaction. 1Service allows the low-income population, including slum dwellers, to avail the services at an affordable cost. We see the enormous potentials of this initiative to reach the citizens of all the municipalities and city corporations to access improved utility services. We believe that our unique effort will bring a visible contribution to the Government’s vision on digital Bangladesh. GSMA deserves appreciation for supporting this noble venture." - Hasin Jahan, Country Director Practical Action Bangladesh.Read more
Svadha
Svadha is a social business building better rural sanitation markets through aggregation and innovation of quality sanitation products and services which are delivered through an army of entrepreneurs and facilitated by ICT. With GSMA, Svadha is developing and launching SaniMark, a platform to integrate and enhance the sanitation ecosystem through ecommerce and customised, data-driven business support for entrepreneurs.
Resources
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Testimonial
“After years of working closely with sanitation entrepreneurs, Svadha is excited to finally help entrepreneurs address their core business management needs. This new opportunity for deeper engagement and support will help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and reach more sanitation consumers with quality sanitation products. We envision providing access to a variety of sanitation-related products through SaniMark and invite other companies to join us in reaching this vast market.” - Jessica Brooks Head of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships
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Orange Madagascar
In this project, Orange Money Madagascar will launch a Solar Home System service on a pay-as-you-go basis - using mobile money and leveraging the Orange brand - in partnership with d.light, a supplier of solar home system products. The energy offering will result in improved access to electricity for underserved households around Antananarivo, the northern and western areas of Madagascar.
Testimonial
“Madagascar is one of the countries facing the biggest challenges in terms of access to electricity. It is estimated that 16% of the population lives in areas where they can access electricity where this figures stands at 61% in Senegal and 86% in South Africa. Orange believes that it is possible to come up with innovative solutions to empower each family in Madagascar, by leveraging Orange’s expertise in this field and Orange Madagascar’s key assets. Orange will use its wide agent network to reach millions of Malagasy and equip them with solutions such as solar home systems or mini-grid solutions. Beyond distribution it is key to imagine new ways to pay and finance these solutions. This is where our leading mobile financial service Orange Money, and its partners, will help reduce the upfront acquisition cost for as many customers as possible.” - Michel Degland, CEO, Orange Madagascar
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Afghan Wireless Communication Company
AWCC has partnered with d.Light to launch mobile-money enabled lease-to-own solar home systems to provide new energy services to residents of Afghanistan that currently do not have access to any reliable energy. The project deploys a business model designed to drive mobile money adoption and expand energy access in Afghanistan.
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Testimonial
"Afghan Wireless, is honoured to work with GSMA Mobile Development For Utilities and its funders to launch My Power—a mobile-money enabled pay-as-you-go system to provide Afghan families with safe, affordable, and renewable lighting. In 2002, we launched Afghan Wireless with a powerful mission: to connect Afghans with one another and the world. Today, the My Power initiative enables us, together, to continue that mission of connecting Afghanistan to the world by providing affordable energy access to all Afghans." Dr. Ehsanollah Bayat Founder and Chairman, Afghan Wireless Communications Company Founder and Chairman, The Bayat GroupRead more
SolarWorks!
SolarWorks! will improve access to energy services to residents in Mozambique by testing Machine Learning optimisation on their solar home systems. The tool combines weather forecasting data and user data to make Solar Home Systems self-learning and minimize system downtime. Through the grant, solar home system downtime will be minimized resulting in improved customer satisfaction and lower energy cost resulting in improved repayment rates.
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Testimonial
"At SolarWorks! we aim to constantly improve the access to energy for our clients. Because of the grant from GSMA we are able to professionally implement machine learning in combination with weather forecast data to minimize the down time of our systems and deliver even better quality energy services against the lowest cost possible for our clients. Mobile data and M2M communication is at the center of this development and makes this all possible." - Arnoud de Vroomen, CEO
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Uduma S.A.S.
Uduma S.A.S carries out operation and maintenance services on water hand-pumps iand small piped water services in Mali. Through the grant they will use mobile-enabled devices to retreive operational information from data loggers on water points and use mobile money and NFC cards for customers to make payments. Uduma SAS aims to demonstrate that mobile solutions for revenue collection and data transmission can help make the delivery of basic services commercially viable , even in areas not yet covered by the GSM network.
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Testimonial
"What if we could significantly increase the efficiency of delivering essential services in rural Sub-Sahara Africa? Accepting this as a challenge, Uduma SAS and its technology partner ventured into developing an innovative new business model which combines mobile technologies such as NFC, data connectivity and mobile money in order to provide clean drinking water to millions of people living in remote areas. We believe cashless revenue collection and remote monitoring of water delivery can greatly improve our level of service to customers to ensure reliability. Through its financial support and technical accompaniment, GSMA is a crucial partner in implementing the new model on a large scale." - Thierry Barbotte, Managing Director Odial Solutions / Director UDUMA S.A.S.Read more
SimGas
Simgas will install a Remote Monitoring & Control system- smart meters to monitor and control the real-time performance of biogas digesters for smallholder farmers. The aim of the project is to prove that the Remote Monitoring & Control system will increase and improve biogas access, and enable scale up of the business model.
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Testimonial
“Biogas is a life changer for millions of rural households. Remote sensing technology is the solution to many of the current hurdles that holds back large scale adoption of biogas digesters. SimGas is the first company to develop and test remote sensors on a commercial scale that provide our customer care centre with live data on the performance of the digesters. With this data we can significantly improve our customer service, preventive maintenance, payment offering, products and carbon monitoring. With the support of the GSMA Utilities Grant, this is now becoming a reality!” - Sanne Castro, Founder and CEO
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Electric Vine Industries
Electric Vine Industries (EVI) is partnering with Telkomsel to integrate TCASH, a mobile money service, into EVI’s power metering payment platform facilitated by TCASH payment collection agents in rural communities. EVI will also launch a device leasing program to increase user ability to manage and purchase electricity on demand through the EVI Wallet. The pilot will provide a sustainable energy access with the opportunity for income generation to many un-electrified Indonesians.
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Testimonial
"Electric Vine Industries (EVI) is a private micro-utility which provides off-grid solar PV Microgrids in East Indonesia, using Smart Metering technology. On the island of Sumba we provide 24/7 access to electricity for over 900 Households, using our software platform which allows us to remotely collect payments, monitor and control the systems’ operational performance. The GSMA grant will provide EVI the ability to introduce mobile money in rural Indonesia to support the three-way synergy between electrification, mobile money, and productive use of devices." - Bryse Gaboury, CEO Electric Vine IndustriesRead more
Electricité de Madagascar
In collaboration with Telma and ADER (the Rural Electrification Agency of Madagascar), Electricité de Madagasca-EDM will construct mini-grids in three rural off-grid villages in the north of Madagascar. The mini-grids will be supported by mobile to enable smart-metering and mobile payments. Telma will serve as an anchor clients for this rural electrification model.
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Testimonial
"We are proud to be a grantee of the GSMA Mobile for Development Utilities Innovation Fund. Such a partnership is a strong signal that we are aiming in the right direction. EDM, with its partners Sagemcom and Telma, always has the ambition to be a leader in its field. This help will allow us to replicate and validate our mini-grid model we already implemented with success in two villages. This is the second step, and a major one, in our project to give access to reliable and clean energy to rural population in Madagascar, and I am convinced it will lead to scaling on a national level." - Hassanein Hiridjee, CEO
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Jazz
Jazz, along with it's technology partner CISNR and grid distributor K-Electric, will design, develop and implement electricity theft prevention and line loss reduction solution. This initiative will address two of the most major issues prevalent in Pakistan: power theft and non-transparency of billing. Jazz and K-electric will target underserved neighbourhoods which suffer the most from theft and increased billing.
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Testimonial
"As one of Pakistan’s leading telecommunications providers, our ambition is to empower our customers digitally by introducing innovative solutions addressing the challenges faced by our customers. Keeping that objective in view, our grant with GSMA will tackle the challenges faced by our local power distribution sector - such as line losses, inefficient power load distribution at transformer level, and electricity theft. This demonstrates our pledge to make Pakistan digital and ensure that mobile technology growth has a profound effect upon changing the lives of people in Pakistan." - Aamir Ibrahim, CEO
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CBSA-Container Based Sanitation Alliance
Building off the experience of its members, the Container Based Saniation Alliance (CBSA) will develop a mobile application and web based platform to support the efficient delivery of household sanitation services across multiple countries. The project will benchmark existing efforts and work to build a common platform that can serve the growing CBS sector while still being adapted to the specific needs of varying service models and contexts. The platform will address both customer relationship management, billing and mobile payments, and track the safe disposal of waste from household to treatment.
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Testimonial
"The member organizations of Container-Based Sanitation Alliance (CBSA) are all primarily focused on expanding access to dignified, safe and affordable sanitation for families and communities in dense urban areas. In order to operate efficiently and deliver quality sanitation services in the most complex and difficult urban environments around the world, CBSA members need to be able to monitor service quality, process payments, navigate logistics and stay engaged with customers. What makes this especially challenging is that it needs to be done while moving around highly informal and rapidly changing settlements and communities. The use of mobile technology is essential for CBSA members to reach scale and deliver dignified, safe and affordable sanitation for the over one billion individuals living in urban areas globally." - Kory Russel, Chair of the Container-Based Sanitation Alliance
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Smarter Grid International
Smarter Grid International is a solar distributor in Nigeria focused on addressing Nigeria's huge energy access gap. Though their grant they will work with Airtel Nigeria to launch mobile payments for pay-as-you-go solar systems. They will also expand their sales to reach additional states and regions in Nigeria.
Resources
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Testimonial
"Nigeria has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, and there remains significant potential for the proliferation of mobile money platforms and PAYG technology against the backdrop of a rapidly growing population which is hungry for connectivity. With GSMA support, our pilot with Airtel will be one of the pioneer projects that will prove the concept of mobile money use in Nigeria, and lay the ground for many more vendors to offer and transact services via mobile money and for mobile money usage to become ubiquitous in the country." - Mrs Heather Onoh, CEO"
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