BCTA MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Active

SECTOR
Information Communication & Technology (ICT)

HEADQUARTERS
Denmark

REGION OF INITIATIVE
Africa, Asia & Pacific

SDG CONTRIBUTION

RELATED NEWS

Internet service provider BLUETOWN joined Business Call to Action in November 2019 with an aim to reach 230 million people in underserved communities globally with affordable internet access by 2024.

Founded in 2014, BLUETOWN invests in remote, rural, and semi-urban communities by deploying its solar powered connectivity solutions and making internet services available at affordable price points. BLUETOWN’s solutions enable clients to access a range of digital services related to education, health, finance and commerce, and other applications that in turn lead to higher living standards in their target communities.

BLUETOWN has developed a low-cost solution to connect remote and unconnected areas. A BLUETOWN base station connects up to 200 Wi-Fi hotspots and are operated entirely on solar power with rechargeable batteries. BLUETOWN’s solar-powered infrastructure allows communities to generate less carbon emissions and avoid local air pollution from diesel generators that are otherwise used for connectivity infrastructure. Moreover, in order to overcome the barrier of unstable connections and low purchasing power in rural locations, BLUETOWN offers a local cloud solution that provide continual access to digital content and services in its client communities.

Beyond ensuring affordable internet access, BLUETOWN also trains its local retailers to become micro-operators who manage the internet service and marketing and sales. In addition, micro-operators are trained to become local change agents who analyse local needs and demonstrate relevant use cases for inexperienced users. This helps break down the skills and awareness barriers in the target communities, helping them access digital content and services, such as e-learning, agricultural training videos, critical health information and selected entertainment without incurring data costs, making digital content and services available for even the most low-income segments.

BLUETOWN’s services are delivered to the end-clients via affordable data-packages that grant access to the internet through Wi-Fi hotspots. Catering to low income clients, BLUETOWN sells daily, weekly and monthly data packages of varying volumes to ensure that the entry-level pricing is affordable for everyone. In the long run, BLUETOWN’s inclusive business model bridges digital divides, improving access to digital content and services and reducing poverty and inequalities.