Nova Lumos will partner with MTN Nigeria and Cellcom Guinee to launch a new pay-as-you-go solar home system via mobile operator’s airtime after winning a seed grant from Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) Innovation Grant Fund, aimed at leveraging mobile technology & infrastructure to improve access to affordable and reliable energy and clean water in underserved communities.
Nova will launch a large and modular solar home systems are targeted to home and small business users while Fenix International, in partnership with MTN Uganda , will scale their newly developed pay-as-you-go technology for the “ReadyPay Power System” to enable solar-powered lighting and phone charging. ReadyPay home and business products will have a joint marketing and distribution with MTN.
The two African companies Fenix International and Nova Lumos were among the 2nd Round recipients of the Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) Innovation Grant Fund. The two firms were under Schneider Electric’s Schneider Electric Energy Access (SEEA) Fund impact-investment fund dedicated to support companies developing technologies and/ or distribution channels in that field.
Announced today by the GSM Association, the Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) encompasses any energy and water service provided to a community which includes a mobile component. The MECS programme aims at leveraging mobile technology & infrastructure to improve access to affordable and reliable energy and clean water in underserved communities.
Launched last year, the MECS Innovation Grant Fund is supported by the UK Government and awards £2.4M in grants to organisations trialling and developing innovations in this same aim.