In line with being Uganda's most innovative telco, Uganda Telecom launched a new phone
onto the Ugandan market.
The new phone dubbed 'Kasana' runs on solar energy and
promises to revolutionalise mobile phone usage in Uganda especially among the rural
populace.
The phone was launched in Arua, a district that has historically suffered from limited
access to the national electricity grid.
“Uganda Telecom is committed to developing products that are relevant to the
communication needs of Ugandans and today we bring you the 'Kasana', Uganda’s first solar
powered mobile phone”, said Mona Lisa Brookshire - Uganda Telecom Chief Marketing and
Product Development Officer.
Uganda has a population of 30 million people but the Uganda Communications Commission
(UCC) puts penetration of mobile telephony at only 30%, more than 80% of whom live in rural
areas with just about 10% having access to grid power.
This means that people without ready access to electricity would have to walk long
distances to charge their handsets at the nearest power outlet often a trading centre that
is miles away.
“The lack of power has been identified as a major barrier to bridging the gap of entry to
the digital age largely because the technology then required all mobile phones to be
charged using grid power. The 'Kasana' phone is here to solve this problem” She added.
The 'Kasana' phone also solves another barrier to penetration of mobile telephony - the
high cost of mobile phone handsets. Not only does the Uganda Telecom 'Kasana' phone retail
at Ushs 75,000/=, it shall also save the owners money as they will not have to travel long
distances to find a power source and then pay to charge their phones anymore.
With the slick solar phone being only 10x5cm, and capable of up to 12 hours of talk time
for just an hour of exposure to the sun, users will have their phones charged full time and
can save the would-be, battery charging money.
The handset is manufactured from recycled materials and has a built-in solar panel that
charges the phone using the sun’s rays. The solar handset can however also be charged from
a power outlet, and comes with a travel charger, making it very convenient for even urban
and peri-urban dwellers that experience intermittent power supply.
As with all mobile
phones, the phone requires an initial charge via electricity of 6-8 hours before use.
“The Kasana phone has the right features at the right price for the customers it is
targeted at” added Mona Lisa Brookshire.
The mobile phone, another first from Uganda Telecom is a direct response to the needs of
the poor in rural areas who have and don’t dream of having access to electricity and have
to pay for charging services.
