Fenix International and Nova Lumos are the two African companies to benefit from this year’s Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) Innovation Grant Fund, the GSM Association (GSMA) has said.[blockquote right=”pull-right” cite=”GSMA”]Nova Lumos will partner with MTN Nigeria and Cellcom Guinee to launch a new pay-as-you-go solar home system via the mobile operators’ airtime. In this seed grant, large and modular solar home systems are targeted to home and small business users. Lessons will be generated about customer demand and pricing in these markets and benefits to mobile operators associated with a more significant role. [/blockquote]
The second round of the MECS programme, which is aimed at leveraging mobile technology and infrastructure to improve access to affordable and reliable energy and clean water in undeserved communities, will see the two companies partner MTN Nigeria to foster access to reliable, affordable and clean energy.
Nova Lumos will partner with MTN Nigeria and Cellcom Guinee to launch a new pay-as-you-go solar home system via the mobile operators’ airtime. In this seed grant, large and modular solar home systems are targeted to home and small business users. Lessons will be generated about customer demand and pricing in these markets and benefits to mobile operators associated with a more significant role.
On its own path, Fenix International will collaborate with MTN Uganda to scale their newly developed pay-as-you-go technology for the “ReadyPay Power System” to enable solar-powered lighting and phone charging. This market validation grant will test the introduction of ReadyPay home and business products through joint marketing and distribution with MTN.
No figure has been quoted by GSMA for this year MECS innovation grant fund but as of 2013 a total sum of £2.4M of the MECS Innovation Grant Fund has been launched with the support of the UK Government to organisations trialling and developing innovations in this same aim.
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