CrossBoundary Energy finances 100% renewable energy solutions for rural, off-grid telecommunications sites in South Sudan and the DRC

12 September 2024, Nairobi, Kenya – CrossBoundary Energy (CBE) has signed an agreement with iSAT Africa to finance renewable energy solutions for telecom sites providing rural connectivity services across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan. iSAT is an integrated communications provider specializing in connectivity, mobile, and satellite solutions to rural and underserved markets. Access to the internet is crucial to building businesses, accessing education, and even in social movements, and expanding communications infrastructure is a core enabler to increase connectivity. The 100% renewable energy solutions will be provided by Clear Blue Technologies, a smart off-grid energy systems company.

Rik Wuts, Head of Telecom Solutions at CrossBoundary Energy, said “Digital infrastructure is a cornerstone of economic growth and an essential enabler of social progress in communities across the continent. Powering this infrastructure with renewable energy enables increased connectivity in underserved markets. This agreement with iSAT Africa reflects our confidence in providing reliable, cost-effective energy in the most remote and challenging locations desperate for connectivity and we look forward to expanding our collaboration rapidly.”

Rakesh Kukreja, CEO at iSAT Africa, said “Our mission, to offer Network as a Service to Mobile Operators that enables them to expand their network coverage to greenfield locations, is made possible through secure, reliable energy solutions. We are thrilled to be partnering with CrossBoundary Energy, whose involvement will allow us to roll out infrastructure to markets that will benefit greatly from better connectivity to bridge the digital divide.”

Miriam Tuerk, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Clear Blue Technologies, said “Our mission is to provide stable, scalable renewable energy solutions in areas that lack connectivity, so we are fully aligned to this project. Both iSAT and CrossBoundary Energy are key partners in enabling the rollout of smart energy technology to benefit these communities.”

Communications infrastructure has rapidly expanded in Africa in recent years but despite this, only 36% of its population has access to broadband internet. South Sudan has some of the lowest internet access on the continent, with only 12% of the population reliably connected. The DRC’s population has around 27% access. These challenges are further exacerbated by a lack of access to reliable electricity and other crucial infrastructure. Renewable energy can power digital infrastructure on the continent as it is decentralized, long-lasting, and reduces reliance on diesel generators.