10 May 2021

Zimbabwe-based solar power company, Zonful Energy, is on a drive to increase mobile internet adoption and usage for rural communities in the southern African nation, which have previously lagged behind.

The company, awarded a grant as part of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Mobile Internet Adoption and Digital Inclusion, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said it is aiming to reduce the internet usage gap through providing affordable mobile services.

Zonful Energy will be introducing the Pay As You Go model to enable low income earning customers to access smartphones upon payment of a small deposit and settle the balance over a stipulated period of time.

Both customers and non-customers of Zonful Energy Solar Home System can be part of the programme.

“Internet adoption will curb the information gap and improve the livelihood of the deprived communities,” the company said in a statement. “In this digital age, internet literacy is of paramount importance and over 43% of the Zimbabwean population does not currently use the internet. The GSMA Innovation Fund will enable Zonful Energy to curtail the internet usage gab in rural off-grid areas. Zonful Energy will market and distribute low-cost smartphones and data bundles with up to 24 months’ data plans.”