LONDON -- A new report released today from the GSMA, entitled Charging Choices, has revealed a US$2.3 billion* opportunity for mobile operators through the provision of off-grid charging solutions such as solar phones or external solar chargers in emerging markets. Following extensive research, the GSMA's Green Power for Mobile (GPM) programme, who commissioned the research, estimates there are 485 million mobile users without access to the electricity grid, a factor which severely limits usage opportunities. The report identifies a range of charging choices available that, if implemented effectively, will extend service availability and could boost average revenues per user by 10-14%.

"We are extremely excited that operators are able to provide people in off-grid areas with solutions to power mobile phones, as this will not only improve quality of life and access to information but can also act as a unique and significant opportunity to fuel economic growth," said David Taverner, GPM Programme Manager, GSMA. "The figures we used to calculate the market size of off-grid charging solutions were on the conservative side, so the actual benefit to mobile operators could in fact be much greater than the US$2.3 billion we are estimating. This preliminary market overview is the start of what the GSMA believes will be an important area of industry growth in the coming years."

"Mobile networks are increasingly being deployed in rural areas of emerging markets, where consumer access to the grid is at best limited and unreliable and in many cases non-existent," said Windsor Holden, Principal Analyst, Juniper Research. "As Juniper Research has observed, usage will in large be dependent on consumers being able to charge the handset through alternative methods, and solar-powered chargers in particular could become a key means of facilitating reliable access to mobile services in these markets."

"This GSMA's Charging Choices report is the most comprehensive document I've seen on the emergence and necessity for alternate mobile power solutions in the developing world," said Tom Bryant, VP global distribution, Digicel.

"Providing people in off-grid areas with the means to power their mobile phone is one of the last hurdles to bringing mobile services to the emerging markets," says Paul Naastepad, CEO of Intivation. "We have been involved in this area for several years and with interest gathering momentum, now is the time to give the concept a push so that it can reach its full potential: providing cheap and ubiquitous power to millions of mobile users in emerging markets."

GSM Association (GSMA)