Innovative telecom technology awarded

VoIP solutions could be in sight for Africa, with a product designed to increase the take-up for mobile phones shortlisted for a major award - indicating that there is a hunger for development of the African market and a sign that, soon, other telcos will pile in and create VoIP-capable networks

VNL's mobile phone base station has been shortlisted for two major awards at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona.

The product, by manufacturer VNL, is a solar-powered mobile base station which is designed to give coverage to the one billion consumers, generally in the developing world, who have unreliable access to electricity.

It is designed for areas where the inhabitants have less than £1.27 a month to spend on their phone networks.

One of the major areas targeted by the product is Africa, which has limited mobile coverage.

Recent research by IDC has shown that, in the fourth quarter of 2009, the worldwide mobile phone market had grown 11.3 per cent, with shipments of 325.3 million units.

With VNL paving the way for further mobile take up in previously hard to reach areas in Africa and India with the launch of this new product, it seems that mobile growth will grow further as this carries on, increasing the likelihood that over time networks will develop which have the capacity to hold VoIP phones.