Solar Energy and Cellular IoT in the Spotlight at AWS Summit

The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cape Town summit which took place on July 11 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre featured global IoT cellular connectivity specialists Eseye together with SolarNow, reportedly to provide insight into the latest, simplest ways IoT devices can be deployed onto AWS.

SolarNow, a social business providing solar energy, appliances and financing solutions in East Africa, talked about how it has utilized IoT, M2M cellular connectivity and AWS Cloud within its solutions to provide more and better services to SolarNow customers. Eseye offered a secure and reliable global multi-Network cellular network data through the AnyNet Secure SIM, with seamless integration onto the AWS Cloud.

Solar has become an increasingly vital energy source for off-grid populations in the East African region; in part as an alternative to hazardous kerosene lamps, but also as means of harnessing the significant economic, social and health benefits, and entrepreneurial business opportunities reliable power sources provide.

“By taking a proven design and effectively copying it into its devices, SolarNow successfully made the transition from a non-connected to a connected product offering, to take full advantage of the capabilities of IoT. Not only was this an avenue for huge growth potential but also greatly enhanced SolarNow’s customer service offering,” said Jeremy Potgieter, SADC regional head, Eseye.

SolarNow was also able to improve other key elements of its offering by analyzing enhanced system data to communicate with clients in the event of an issue with their device. System data also allowed SolarNow to build a more complete picture of their customer in order to develop product value. SolarNow says that by turning to cellular connectivity the company was able to remotely monitor the performance of its solar system. a key level of capability needed to alleviate any concerns over connectivity and which was needed for SolarNow to continue its drive to grow the use of solar as a central energy source across East Africa.

Potgieter says SolarNow successfully utilized IoT in a move that was pivotal for the company and its customers. “The power of connected technology to solve issues and truly change lives across Africa, by enabling service provision for even the most remote or disempowered members of its communities, cannot be underestimated.”