'Solar smart kiosks' saving mobile phone users in Rwanda

Mobile phone utility is on the rise in Africa, but charging devices can be a struggle, especially in areas with limited access to electricity.

Some entrepreneurs have rekindled hopes of millions of people in Rwanda by coming up with solar smart kiosk that serves different purposes like charging phones, internet browsing and mobile money transfer.

Solar smart kiosk has also offered employment opportunity to many locals.

The developer of this idea is Henri Nyakarundi. Henri’s vision is to create up to 100, 000 micro businesses across Africa in the next two years in a planned massive role out of the kiosks. This should be possible when his dream of increasing the number of kiosk from the current 25 to 800 kiosks in two years’ time come to pass.

ARED, the parent company behind the solar mobile kiosk, worked with German hardware developers to create a process where content is stored on a server then distributed via a WiFi system installed on the cart using an intranet system. The system offers a low cost internet services across six districts in Rwanda.