With 485 million mobile users deprived of access to electricity grids, off-grid charging solutions such as solar phones or external solar chargers hold immense potential particularly in the emerging market, says GSMA citing its research under Green Power for Mobile (GPM) programme.

Additionally with lack of access to electricity-based charging solutions, mobile usage in such areas is observed to be limited. If provided an alternative charging option, even the mobile usage in these areas can shoot up with the ARPU increasing by 10-14 %.

“We are extremely excited that operators are able to provide people in off-grid areas with solutions to power mobile phones, as this will not only improve quality of life and access to information but can also act as a unique and significant opportunity to fuel economic growth,” says David Taverner, GPM Programme Manager, GSMA. “The figures we used to calculate the market size of off-grid charging solutions were on the conservative side, so the actual benefit to mobile operators could in fact be much greater than the US$2.3 billion we are estimating. This preliminary market overview is the start of what the GSMA believes will be an important area of

60 % of mobile operators across the globe are already exploring off-grid charging solutions.