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Universal internet access needs affordable, reliable electricity
Achieving universal and affordable access to the internet will require expanding access to affordable and reliable electricity – according to a report, Powering last-mile connectivity from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) and Facebook.
Bridging the ‘digital divide’ for the four billion people without internet access requires affordable power, and this is especially true for people living in remote areas in emerging economies. The report outlines the challenges the developing world faces in giving more people access to the electricity grid, and the implications for the mobile industry if billions of people continue to lack that access.
It finds that electricity access is key for both provision and consumption of connectivity services – power is needed across the value chain, from accessing networks to the devices that people use to get online, and that, globally, mobile network operators and cellular tower operators spend nearly $4bn on diesel fuel for remote sites annually, making up a significant component of their operating budget. However, solar and battery storage are now cheap enough to play a key role in expanding internet access.
