In a remote Tanzanian fishing village, accessible only by dirt roads and challenged by flash floods, stands a community of 200 residents. Traditional telecom operators had left them offline due to high operational costs, with the nearest town hours away from where the fishermen conduct business.
The Solution
World Mobile delivered a wireless network using renewable solar power and hybrid unlicensed spectrum. Our local network partner uses existing fiber optics to reach 65 km from the village. From there, unlicensed spectrum connects to multiple AirNodes creating a mesh network that reaches the village.
Real Impact
Through World Mobile, fishermen gained access to:
- Wi-Fi connectivity for phones and devices
- World Mobile network for calls and messaging
- Local shops for credit top-ups
- Decentralized digital IDs
- Online services including microcredit loans, banking, and healthcare
The proof of concept Smart Village saw rapid growth, with shops and bars multiplying. Thanks to backup power and solar lighting, vendors now trade well into the night.
“Our solution will not only turn a profit for World Mobile, but the villages that connect themselves will also thrive in ways they may have never thought possible. Africa will finally be on the grid.” - Micky Watkins, World Mobile CEO
Read the full case study here: World Mobile | Smart village case study