Nokia eyes rural community through ‘Wireless Village’

Suharshi PERERA in New Delhi

COMMUNICATION: Nokia Siemens Networks has gathered strength to empower the rural sector of the Asia Pacific region in mobile telecommunication with its “Wireless Village” concept enabling village masses across the region to be connected with the rest of the world, Solutions Development Director of Nokia Siemens Networks Rauno Granath said.

Granath speaking at a media workshop held in New Delhi last Friday said the mobile phone manufacturer has developed a partnership-based approach to achieve connectivity by reducing the total cost of owning a mobile phone to about three dollars per month.

“Rural coverage is still an unlocked potential where nearly three billion live. It is a great challenge to approach this market which comprises consumers with irregular income,” he added.

The Wireless Village concept focusing rural areas of the Asian Pacific including South Asia is based on cost-effective connectivity which seeks to link village by village.

A local entrepreneur works with a regional operator to offer facilities including flat rate for local calls, pre-paid and post-paid services.

The entrepreneur also provides local product support, billing and invoicing to all subscribers.

“Electricity generation and power supply remain a huge obstacle to provide telecommunication facility to rural sector. To overcome this the new solution is planned on transmission that based on alternative energy options like solar panels,” the Solutions Development Director said.

The concept is being piloted in India and will be expanded to other countries soon, he added.

Under this system Nokia expects to supply mobile services for up to 14,000 subscribers through one Acess Center.