VNL

PRESS RELEASE: Zero Opex Now Commercially Available in the Americas 24 Jun, 2009

News from VNL – Main Hall, Stand 3

VNL announces availability of its solar-powered GSM system for rural areas where ARPUs are less than $2

AMERICAS COM, JUNE 30, 2009 – VNL today announced that WorldGSM, the world’s first solar powered GSM system specifically designed for remote rural areas in South America and throughout the world, is now commercially available.

VNL’s WorldGSM enables mobile operators to reach remote rural areas where ARPUs are less than $2 a month – and still make a profit.

For years, operators and GSM equipment vendors have struggled with the same problem: traditional GSM equipment is not designed for the unique challenges posed by remote rural areas. It costs too much, is too expensive to run, uses too much power and is too difficult to deploy (especially in areas with no electricity, poor roads and a lack of trained engineers).

VNL has spent the last 5 years re-engineering GSM to overcome these challenges. The result is WorldGSM – the world’s first truly environmentally sustainable mobile network.

Trials in remote villages in Rajasthan, the largest state in India, have recently finished. Many people made their first ever phone calls thanks to VNL.

VNL’s WorldGSM uses solar power as its single energy source – no diesel generators required. It is made for simple delivery and deployment by local workers – all resulting in zero opex, dramatically lower capex and near zero maintenance. The use of solar power not only drastically reduces operating expenses for mobile operators but also contributes to a much lower environmental impact. VNL estimates that mobile networks in India alone require two billion litres of diesel every year to power back-up diesel generators.

WorldGSM won the “best technology foresight” category at last year’s World Communications Awards and was runner up in the “Green Network Hardware and Infrastructure” category at the 2009 CTIA Wireless E-Tech Awards.

<h4>OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO RURAL MARKETS</h4>
WorldGSM overcomes the many barriers to serving rural markets without making any unnecessary compromises. The system integrates with existing GSM macro networks and extends them into previously unreachable rural areas. It is 3GPP compliant and compatible with all standard handsets. The highlights:

• Zero opex – made possible by major reductions in power consumption; allowing for the use of solar power as the single energy source. No diesel generators are required.
• Low capex – priced at less than traditional GSM base stations -so that it’s profitable even at very low population densities and ARPU levels.
• Rural-optimized and easy to transport – compact and rugged; can even be transported on bullock carts.
• Self-deploying and near-zero maintenance – can be installed in just 6 hours by 2 unskilled persons and can be maintained by local workers.
• Solar powered – needs only 50–150 W per base station compared to the 3000 W required for traditional GSM. Each site can be powered by a 2-8 m² solar panel, rather than the 200 m² panel required to power a traditional GSM base station.

WorldGSM also opens up a new microtelecom business model – involving microfinance – where operators can partner with local entrepreneurs to accelerate deployment and reduce costs still further.

Rajiv Mehrotra, VNL’s Chairman, CEO and founder, says;

“We have overcome the challenges of providing GSM networks in rural areas. Now operators have a truly viable way to build profitable networks to connect the next billion mobile users.”

WorldGSM can be seen at VNL’s booth (stand 3) at AmericasCOM in Rio de Janeiro 30 June – 1 July.

For more information, visit www.vnl.in or contact VNL’s PR representatives Rafael Junquera (+1-305-735-8095, rafael.junquera@tele-medios.com or Skype: rafaeljunquera) or Juan Gimenez (+54 11 4772 8777, juan.gimenez@tele-medios.com or Skype: tucholin.

Comms Day International Edition: June 18, 2009 23 Jun, 2009

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VNL’s solar-power GSM nodes now commercial available

VNL has developed a solar-powered WorldGSM base station for rural villages officially launched at Singapore’s CommunicAsia trade show yesterday. Rajiv Mehrotra, founder, CEO and chairman of VNL, told Comms Day that the system will provide remote villages with GSM coverage through a model that encourages local entrepreneurs while alleviating the capex and opex obligations for operators.

Read the complete article on Page 3 (PDF) »

COMMUNICATIONS AFRICA: “Rural Communications Finds Its Place in the Sun ” 27 May, 2009

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(Article, PDF, 96 KB)

Solar power could transform rural lives and, with the right business model, it could also pay for itself quickly and make money for operators; Anil Raj, Board Member of telecom equipment maker VNL, tells us why this idea is eminently feasible.

“THE DIESEL GENERATOR is normally a very reliable piece of equipment which will give you many years of service – if it is operated and maintained with an attitude of religious devotion. You have to change the air filter regularly. You have to be careful about the quality of the fuel that you use. You have to change your fuel filters regularly. Every 100 hours you have to basically disassemble your fuel injection pump. If you do this you will be rewarded with long financial life and reliable duty. Now of course this doesn’t happen, and what you have is equipment which is sub-optimal, which consumes a lot of power and which will be a heap of rusting scrap very soon at a huge cost to the operator.”

So if Anil Raj, Board Member of telecom equipment maker VNL, is right, and you’re looking for a base station to connect your village to a mobile network, powering it with diesel may be economically unfeasible. But for rural dwellers, in areas where supply from the grid is unreliable at best, what alternative is there?

Read the complete article (PDF) »

PRESS RELEASE: VNL Solar-Powered GSM Base Station Takes Second Place at 2009 CTIA Emerging Technology Awards 17 Apr, 2009

April 14 2009 – VNL’s solar-powered GSM system recently took second place in the “Green Network Hardware and Infrastructure category” at the CTIA’s E-Tech awards (www.ctiawireless.com/media).

VNL’s WorldGSM™ is the first solar-powered GSM system specifically designed to enable mobile operators in the developing world to build networks in remote rural areas where ARPUs are low – and still make a profit.

Created in 2006, the CTIA E-Tech Awards programme is designed to give industry recognition and exposure to the best wireless products and services. This year, the awards attracted almost 300 entries which were reviewed by a panel of recognised members of the media, industry analysts and executives. Products are judged on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall “wow” factor.

Vikas Tyagi accepted this award on VNL’s behalf. He is fifth from the left.

The award ceremony took place on April 2nd during the CTIA show in Las Vegas. First place went to Nokia Siemens Networks’ low energy, multi-technology Flexi Multiradio Base Station, and third place to Alcatel-Lucent’s Sustainable Power Solution, a service that includes lifecycle assessment and equipment recycling. They all represent an integral part of the emerging sustainable telecom ecosystem and are complementary.

Anil Raj, VNL Board Member, said:

“Recognition from our industry peers is always very welcome. We know that VNL is the only vendor focused on enabling operators to build a sustainable business case for low ARPU customers. It’s great that our efforts have been recognised by the CTIA.”

For years, operators and GSM equipment vendors have struggled with the same problem: traditional GSM equipment is not designed for the unique challenges posed by remote rural areas. It costs too much, is too expensive to run, uses too much power and is too difficult to deploy (especially in areas with no electricity, poor roads and a lack of trained engineers).

VNL has spent the last five years re-engineering GSM to overcome these challenges. The highlights of VNL’s WorldGSM system:

• Solar Powered – needs only 50 – 120W per base station compared to the 3000W required for traditional GSM. Each site can be powered by a 2-8m² solar panel, rather than the 200 m² panel required to power a traditional GSM base station.
• Zero Opex – made possible by major reductions in power consumption; allowing for the use of solar power as the single energy source. No diesel generators are required.
• Low Capex – priced at less than a quarter of traditional GSM base stations so profitable at very low densities and ARPU levels
• Rural-Optimized and Easy to Transport – compact and rugged; can even be transported on bullock carts.
• Self-Deploying and Near-Zero Maintenance – easily installed and maintained by local workers.

WorldGSM also opens up a new microtelecom business model – involving microfinance – where operators can partner with local entrepreneurs to accelerate deployment and reduce costs still further.

Anil Raj, VNL Board Member, says:

“The industry recognises that VNL has finally provided operators with a truly viable way to build profitable networks to serve rural communities with low ARPUs”.

Last November WorldGSM won the “best technology foresight” category at the World Communications Awards.

ABOUT VNL

VNL (www.vnl.in) is substantially changing the way operators will build networks in the future. As the innovator of zero opex networks and the pioneer of microtelecom, their simple to install solar powered cellular base stations help mobile operators maximize their profit margins by reaching rural markets profitably. The management team includes telecom industry veterans with vast experience in bringing products and services to entirely new markets. Its Chairman and founder, Rajiv Mehrotra, started the Shyam Group of companies and established some of the earliest GSM, CDMA and fixed networks in India serving millions of people today.

For more information, visit the company website at www.vnl.in or contact VNL’s PR representative Bridget Fishleigh (+44 7946 342 903, bridget@nomadcomms.com or Skype: bridgetfishleigh).

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PRESS RELEASE: VNL’s Solar Powered GSM Base Station Short-Listed at 2009 CTIA Emerging Technology Awards 25 Mar, 2009

March 25 2009 – VNL’s solar powered GSM system is one of just four entries short-listed in the “Green Network Hardware and Infrastructure category” category at the CTIA’s E-Tech awards.

VNL’s WorldGSM is the first solar powered GSM system specifically designed to enable mobile operators in the developing world to build networks in remote rural areas where ARPUs are low – and still make a profit.

Created in 2006, The CTIA E-Tech Awards programme is designed to give industry recognition and exposure to the best wireless products and services.

This year the awards attracted almost 300 entries which were reviewed by a panel of recognised members of the media, industry analysts and executives. Products are judged on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall “wow” factor. Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, Cisco, Qualcomm, NSN, Huawei and Samsung all have products short-listed in various categories. The solar powered chargers of Suntrica, a partner of VNL, has also been short-listed in the Green Network Hardware and Infrastructure category of the awards.

Winners will be announced and awarded at the show on April 2 (http://ctiait.ctia.org/eTechw2009public).

For years, operators and GSM equipment vendors have struggled with the same problem: traditional GSM equipment is not designed for the unique challenges posed by remote rural areas. It costs too much, is too expensive to run, uses too much power and is too difficult to deploy (especially in areas with no electricity, poor roads and a lack of trained engineers).

VNL has spent the last five years re-engineering GSM to overcome these challenges. The highlights of VNL’s WorldGSM system:

• Zero opex – made possible by major reductions in power consumption; allowing for the use of solar power as the single energy source. No diesel generators are required.
• Low capex – priced at less than a quarter of traditional GSM base stations so profitable at very low densities and ARPU levels
• Rural-optimized and easy to transport – compact and rugged; can even be transported on bullock carts.
• Self-deploying and near-zero maintenance – easily installed and maintained by local workers.
• Solar powered – needs only 50 – 120W per base station compared to the 3000W required for traditional GSM. Each site can be powered by a 2-8m² solar panel, rather than the 200 m² panel required to power a traditional GSM base station.

WorldGSM also opens up a new microtelecom business model – involving microfinance – where operators can partner with local entrepreneurs to accelerate deployment and reduce costs still further.

Anil Raj, VNL Board Member, says:

“The industry recognises that VNL has finally provided operators with a truly viable way to build profitable networks to serve rural communities with low ARPUs”.

Last November WorldGSM won the “best technology foresight” category at the World Communications Awards.

For more information, visit the company website at www.vnl.in or contact VNL’s PR representative Bridget Fishleigh (+44 7946 342 903, bridget@nomadcomms.com or Skype: bridgetfishleigh).

ABOUT VNL

VNL (www.vnl.in) – the innovator of zero opex networks and pioneer of microtelecom – helps mobile operators reach rural markets profitably. The management team includes telecom industry veterans with vast experience in bringing products and services to entirely new markets. Its Chairman and founder, Rajiv Mehrotra, started the Shyam Group of companies and established some of the earliest GSM, CDMA and fixed networks in India serving millions of people today.

Impact of Mobile Telephony on Rural Marketing 25 Feb, 2009

India’s overall economic growth has dramatically increased rural India’s purchasing power. Marketers are now looking at smart ways to reach the rural market. Some Indian companies have modified their offerings specifically for the needs of rural markets.

Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) is a good example with successful rural marketing projects like ‘Project Shakti’ and ‘Operation Bharat’. The main emhasis of HLL’s strategy has been to focus on penetrating the market down the line and focusing on price point. Hindustan Lever relies heavily on its own company-organised media. These are promotional events organised by stockists.

Coca Cola India entered the rural market by introducing bottles priced at Rs. 5. The campaign was backed with ads featuring well-known actor Aamir Khan. During the Aamir Khan ad-campaign, they also used local language in advertising. A combination of TV, cinema and radio was used to increase the reach to rural consumers. Coca Cola have also used banners and posters, and tapped many local forms of entertainment. Because of the common lack of electricity and refrigerators in rural areas, Coca Cola provides low-cost ice boxes — a tin box for new outlets and thermocool box for seasonal outlets.

A thorough understanding of the rural consumer is a crucial key to rural marketing success. Rural marketeers also need to take the large diversity of customs and language into account. Ideas and techniques used in urban areas just won’t work for rural consumers.

Mobile telephony can better enable rural marketing in the following ways:

1. Better understanding of the rural consumer – Marketers need to understand the psyche of the rural consumers and then act accordingly. Traditional broadcast media (television, radio etc.) is not interactive, which means you can’t get any inputs from the consumers. Mobile media can change this and help marketers in better understanding of the rural consumer. With the advent of rural telephony, market research companies can conduct telephonic surveys and interact directly with rural consumers.
2. More effective marketing communication – This includes messages and related media used to communicate with the market. Television has made a great impact and a large audience has been exposed to this medium. But since TV programmes are also produced for the urban population, marketers have to make a choice between rural and urban. With the advent of mobile telephony in rural markets, marketers can use this channel to provide customized communication directly to their target markets. One example solution is to send voice-SMS in the regional language.

Clearly there are many advantages to marketers if the mobile telephone density increases in rural India. With VNL’s solar powered GSM system – WorldGSM™ – mobile operators can finally provide rural mobile telephony services to India’s villages. This will in turn will enable better rural marketing specifically designed for rural consumers.

Further reading:

• “Coca-Cola in Rural India” (Slideshow, slideshare.net) ››
• “Coca Cola India’s Thirst for the Rural Market” (Case study, icmrindia.org) ››
• “Rural Marketing: Making inroads into the hinterlands” (Article, indiantelevision.com) ››

VNL Wins Best Technology Foresight Award 27 Nov, 2008

Last night, VNL won the prestigious “Best Technology Foresight” award at the yearly WCA awards in London.

This was the most hotly contested category of the entire evening with 15 companies shortlisted.

The World Communication Awards (WCA) is recognised as the most trusted global industry event of its kind in the communications industry.

The judges described VNL’s WorldGSM system as “a big breakthrough” and they “applauded the use of a green technology that brought mobility to rural areas”.

These were the shortlisted companies for “Best Technology Foresight”:

• Aepona (Telecom Web Services Platform)
• AT&T (Business Direct)
• Bharti Telesoft (Monet Hub)
• Ceragon Networks (FibeAir IP-MAX2)
• dotMobi (DeviceAtlas)
• NXP (mobilkom NFC services)
• NextWave Wireless (TDtv)
• Orange Business Services (Near Field Communications)
• Orga Systems GmbH (LOMS Local Mobile Services)
• Qualcomm (Gobi Global Mobile Internet)
• Spinvox (Spinvox VMCS)
• Telcordia (Real Time Charging)
• Telstra (Network Transformation)
• VNL (WorldGSM solar powered base station)
• Wayfinder (Wayfinder Access)

This is yet another validation of the importance of the task VNL has undertaken - to help mobile operators profitably and sustainably bring mobile telephony to rural areas.

See the full list of WCA award winners at totaltele.com »

Read Ovum’s commentary – “Looking back on technology foresight” »