The overarching belief that drives me is that connectivity will enable global development. Constant and affordable connectivity are key to unlocking the economic potential of hundreds of millions around the world. We’ve already seen in more developed countries how digitalization has had a positive impact on every sector. From education, to health, to financial services, digital innovation renders things more accessible and working more efficiently.
There’s no reason that nearly half the world’s population should be left out of these services. And perhaps more importantly, beyond making life easier, digital allows for a sense of inclusion in our global community. Bringing balance into this world of inequality starts by bridging the digital divide and connecting the unconnected to the mobile internet networks that power modern economy and reinforce democracy and social justice.
This is the goal we want to fight for. Thanks to our technology, this is a goal we can contribute to, today.
How are we able to connect users in remote locations around the globe? We realized that, while everyone was rushing into 3G, 4G or 5G (which actually cover a very small part of the planet), the standard 2G-SMS had the widest geographic reach but just wasn’t being utilized to its fullest capability. Our solution optimizes all networks, capable of providing broadband internet services working everywhere there is a network signal (Mobile, White Space or Satellite). It is a network agnostic technology that uses a (patented) IoT device to stay connected regardless of the network available (from 4G/3G down to SMS) and regardless of its quality (even weak or saturated).
And our business model goes beyond the mobile technology. We see that it all starts with Electrification what ultimatly powers connectivity. Connectivity powers knowledge. Knowledge powers social and economic progress. Our platform enabables access to local and relevant content; content in local languages that addresses specific local issues: from farming tips to traffic information or mobile payment-specific solutions. Developers can create a relevant and true-app experience, even without Internet! Above all we are enablers, partners. We have the technology and we put it at the service of International organization like UN, Governments, Developers and societies to make the dream of a connected world a reality!
My vision for tomorrow’s broadband connected world is one where everyone stays connected, everywhere. Helping to change people’s lives through converting illiteracy into knowledge, Where the people in the most remote areas can have access to the same information as those in the most urban cities, equalizing the playing field. From healthcare information, to news, to education, everyone will play a part in the global social network.
For the markets, we serve (and for our western world) People don’t care what network they’re using. What we want is to stay connected, period. I think the whole process will be streamlined and invisible to the user, wherever he/she is.
Things are sometimes more slow-going than I am willing to accept. I am always 10 steps ahead, something that can be frustrating, but honestly, I can’t imagine working any other way!
Kumbaya is a disruptive solution, and that has its positive and negative points. Disruption in telecommunications is almost an oxymoron. But that’s really what we see ourselves doing. As with any disruptive solution, we are creating our own market and ecosystem, and all of this takes time. That’s something I am learning to work with.
At the operational level, there are the challenges inherent to the telecommunication field itself. Telecommunications tend to be disjointed, separated country by country, government by government, each with its own operating system. Deploying in developing countries means as well, dealing with specific political and regulatory issues. All this makes planning a difficult task: each country inevitably has its own timeline.
How we solve the need of education and knowledge content will be a mix of repurposing existing and new to develop content. The need and enthusiasm for content is clear. And there’s an advantage to being at the forefront of this movement, and reaching first-time users, the eagerness and appetite for gaining access to compelling education and knowledge content will have a far better chance of succeeding than in the already saturated markets of developed countries.
But beyond the pure market opportunity, we would like them to participate in the first all-inclusive digital connected ecosystem for the emerging markets. This is what matters and what Kumbaya has been developing, to create a platform to a better life gaining the knowledge to reach prosperity.
Starting a new business is always tough, but launching a business focused on the needs of the developing world’s poorest often seems impossible. Capital is the scarce resource that allows new, sometimes unconventional, potentially world-changing ideas to see the light of day. Kumbaya proudly innovated a life changing platform to help convert illiteracy to knowledge; connecting the unconnected and helping nurture the economic growth in developing countries.
Kumbaya will present its product suite during the MWC 2018 hall8 8.0D13 at Barcelona from FEB 26 till MARCH 1 2018.