Quebec, QC, Canada, November 14th, 2019 – NuRAN Wireless Inc. (“NuRAN Wireless”) (CSE: NUR) (OTC: NRRWF) (FSE: 1RN), a leading supplier of mobile and broadband wireless infrastructure solutions, announces it has been selected by the GSMA Connected Society Innovation Fund for Rural Connectivity.
A grant of up to £330,000 has been awarded to the Company to test and evaluate new innovative mobile internet connectivity solutions for unconnected rural communities in Africa. The fund will be allocated in partnership with Vodafone Ghana and is set to run for approximately 18 months. A total number of 7 new greenfield sites will pilot innovative solutions of the Company to deploy mobile broadband networks in rural areas, that will provide low-cost mobile internet coverage through commercially sustainable models, that can be scaled and replicated in similar environments across the region.
“This collaboration is ground-breaking in its aims to connect unconnected communities in rural locations and deliver a range of essential digital services,” said Akinwale Goodluck, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA. “The challenge is not only bringing mobile internet coverage to rural areas, which can be twice as expensive as in urban areas and with smaller revenue opportunities but to do so in a way that ensures long-term commercial sustainability. Innovation and partnership is essential to addressing this challenge, and the Innovation Fund, in association with the mobile ecosystem and government partners, is playing a key role in identifying new ways of using mobile technology to connect the unconnected.”
“This pioneering initiative will certainly extend mobile connectivity and access to communities within parts of Northern Ghana,” said Patricia Obo-Nai, Chief Executive Officer, Vodafone Ghana. “More than ever before, mobile communication has become the preferred means of staying connected with family as well as businesses. This initiative is in line with our objective to leave no one behind as we drive the digital transformation agenda in this ever-changing technological environment.’’
The solution from NuRAN and its partners was assessed by an independent judging panel of industry experts and considered the most suitable among the applicants to address challenging rural environments that have low population density, difficult terrain and limited infrastructure. The Fund is backed by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by the GSMA.
NuRAN has teamed up with industry leaders to insure the success of the pilot project, and selected Clear Blue Technologies for the solar power system, Redline Communications for the terrestrial backhaul links, and i engineering for the tower, site installation and site maintenance.
“NuRAN is proud of having been selected by the GSMA Connected Society Innovation Fund and to have ubiquitous connectivity as its mission. Succeeding on this endeavour requires levels of accessibility and affordability that only innovative technology can overcome. We welcome this selection by GSMA as recognition of our technological innovation and look forward to contributing further to a better, connected society”, stated Maxime Dumas, President & CEO of NuRAN Wireless.
No regulatory authority has approved or reviewed the contents of the information contained in this news release.
