World Panel Inc is launching a suite of handheld solar chargers at AfricaCom in Cape Town next week.
The chargers aim to close the revenue gap caused by charging difficulties, and provide branding opportunities for wireless carriers, their partners and OTTs.
A key feature of the new chargers is the patented ‘direct-from-the-sun’ technology that charges a phone as fast as a wall outlet and allows for a low price-point as well as remarkable durability. Utility-grade materials from the solar industry are used in the construction of the rugged devices so they can endure the harshest environmental conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The chargers can power any USB device and can be linked together using the firm’s PowerLink to double or triple the output.
“I arrived in the Sub-Saharan in 2011 with a solar prototype for boiling water and left with the clear message that people wanted a better way to keep their phones charged,” said World Panel CEO John Anderson. “After an intense R&D and testing period, I am returning to Africa to launch a line of patented chargers that meets the requirements of those I interviewed: it is as fast as a wall plug, it will last, and the price is right. Income generation is possible also for both entrepreneurs and the telecoms since 10 phones can be charged in a day.”
Recent independent tests performed on the chargers show that the most popular phones in Africa charge in an hour, which provides five to six hours of talk time. Blackberry smartphones charge in two to three hours and provide three to four hours of talk and data time.
By eliminating the charging costs associated with phone ownership in many areas, and allowing for fast and easy charging for up to 10 phones per day via free sun energy, operators can recoup the cost of the chargers within a few months and generate ARPU for years to come. On-the-go charging can pave the way for more airtime purchases and smartphone use. GSMA states that charging solutions represent a $3.37 billion USD opportunity for the operators, and the U.N.’s energy initiative has published that African telecoms suffer a 20% revenue loss due to unreliable phone charging.