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Ericsson and Tigo Rwanda have collaborated with Coca-Cola Company, Medshare, Pentair, Phillips and Solarkiosk to establish a flagship EKOCENTER in Ruhunda, Rwanda

The solar-powered site will provide access to Wi-Fi-enabled internet access and mobile charging services, improved medical services, purified water and other key services to up to 25,000 local residents.

The initiative would create a community hub to help communities by providing access to resources and address issues like poverty, lack of electricity and safe water, financial exclusion and gender inequality.

Solarkiosk has designed and operates the new EKOCENTER. Ericsson has constructed a new mobile phone tower to provide connectivity, while Tigo is providing 3G coverage for internet access.

EKOCENTER is a social enterprise initiative launched by Coca-Cola in 2013 to empower communities by providing access to safe water, solar power and mobile communications, and basic goods and services. The initiative relies on partnerships across the public and private sector to operate sustainably.

Andreas Spiess, CEO of Solarkiosk, said, “Africa is blessed with abundant sunshine and solar-powered energy solutions provide vast opportunities for the continent. We are excited about the many natural synergies between our vision and Coca-Cola’s EKOCENTER to enable and empower communities.”

More than 100 EKOCENTERs have been opened in seven countries. The initiative aims to open at least 177 new sites in ten countries to serve a potential one million people.

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