Gurgaon-based, Vihaan Networks Ltd (VNL) continues to bask under international glory for its technological breakthrough related to solar-powered GSM base station solution which promises low opex model to operators with the World Economic Forum naming VNL as Technology Pioneer 2010. The development follows Wall Street Journal which also termed VNL as the Most Innovative Company.

VNL’s solution aims to provide feasible wireless solutions to that segment of the population who are yet to reap the benefits of mobile communication due to electricity problems. According to VNL addressable market for this solution is over three billion or half of the world’s population who live in rural areas. 1.6 billion of this segment have no electricity and another one billion live in areas which have unreliable access to power.

Rajiv Mehrotra, Founder Chairman & CEO, VNL says, “The work that VNL is doing will improve the lives of billions of the poorest people around the world.  We are happy that the World Economic Forum has recognized that our company has pioneered the only sustainable way for telephone operators to build commercially viable networks in the poorest areas of the world.”

In India VNL’s WorldGSM solution is already installed in more than 50 villages in Rajasthan with the solution requiring no shelter, air conditioning, mains power, generator or diesel fuel.  

Some of the salient features of the solution includes zero opex, low capex, rural optimised & easy to transport, self-deploying & near-zero maintenance and solar-powered.