Nokia and Airtel have deployed Madagascar's first totally off-grid Rural Connect sites to help bridge the digital divide and expand mobile connectivity to underserved communities.
According to a joint release, the sites enable a telco to provide dependable coverage in rural places where connectivity was previously unavailable by combining three fundamental components: AirScale Radio Access, Nokia renewable power systems, and lean civil structures.
The collaboration comes as the International Telecommunication Union reports that 2.6 billion people globally still lack internet access, with 1.8 billion living in rural areas.
These data underscore both the need and the opportunity to bridge the connectivity gap. According to World Bank study, a 10% increase in broadband penetration can raise GDP by up to 2.5% in underdeveloped countries, while GSMA re-search suggests that eliminating the mobile internet usage gap could add $700 billion to global GDP by 2030.
The companies stated that the solution immediately solves these issues by providing cost-effective, long-term connectivity for rural and low-density locations.
It repurposes refurbished radio access network hardware, promoting circular economy principles, integrates renewable power sources, enabling fully off-grid operation via solar or hybrid solar-wind systems, and supports flexible back-haul, including microwave, user equipment relay, and low Earth-orbit satellite, ensuring performance even in the most remote terrains.
Furthermore, the initiative reinforces commitment to bridging the digital divide and fulfilling its universal service obligations, while advancing Nokia’s strategic focus on connecting the unconnected through sustainable, energy-efficient solutions across Africa.
Rural Connect deployments in Ethiopia, Egypt, Cameroon, and Mali have already demonstrated measurable impact, said the companies.
The two went on to say one rural Cameroonian community, mobile usage increased fivefold within two weeks of site activation, providing residents their first access to education, healthcare, digital commerce, and government services.
Commenting on the infrastructure, Mustapha Salah, head of mobile networks for Central, East and West Africa at Nokia said: “Working with Airtel Madagascar to deliver our Rural Connect sites exemplifies how innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. Through Rural Connect, we provide operators with a scalable, energy-efficient, and affordable solution to extend connectivity to the hardest-to-reach communities.”
Anne Catherine Tchokonte Tcholagheu, CEO of Airtel Madagascar added: “Our collaboration with Nokia marks a transformative step forward in ensuring that no community is left behind in Madagascar’s digital journey. By expanding coverage to rural areas, we are not only fulfilling regulatory obligations but opening new doors to education, healthcare, and economic opportunity for thousands of people.”
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