www.multilinks.biz
🌍 First-of-its-kind 5G rollout
- Launch & Partners
Sierra Leone’s telecom operator Zoodlabs has teamed up with CrossBoundary Energy to introduce the country’s first 5G network—powered by a clean energy system—for the capital city of Freetown, with plans to expand nationwid. - Technology & Infrastructure
The system utilizes a hybrid setup combining solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, and backup generators, ensuring about 99.9% reliability with minimal fossil fuel dependency. - Rollout Scale
CrossBoundary is financing the first five 5G towers in Freetown to expedite deployment, with future waves set for broader national coverage . - Drivers & Goals
- Enhanced connectivity: Faster internet speeds, lower latency, and increased device capacity to support smart cities, IoT, remote healthcare, and more.
- Bridging digital divides: With current broadband access at just ~20.7%, this initiative aims to improve digital inclusion in urban and eventually rural areas.
✅ Why this matters
- Dual impact: Strengthens digital infrastructure and advances Sierra Leone’s renewable energy transition simultaneously.
- Reliability: Hybrid energy design ensures nearly continuous operation (~99.9% uptime) in a context of unstable grid power.
- Sustainable model: Could become a template across Africa, demonstrating how green energy and next-gen telecoms can work hand-in-hand.
🛠 Technical and strategic insights
- Hybrid energy architecture
Designed to maximize uptime while curbing diesel use. Oliver Benham of CrossBoundary highlighted it as a “reliable, affordable, and cleaner way” to power telecoms. - Pilot phase
Laid the groundwork with five towers. Future phases are expected to scale both coverage and renewable capacity.
📈 Impact & outlook
- Digital transformation: Enables applications like e-health, e-learning, smart city services, and IoT—vital for Sierra Leone’s socio-economic development.
- Economic appeal: Reduces operational costs by minimizing expensive diesel usage amid high energy costs.
- Regional influence: Sets a precedent for sustainable telecom infrastructure across West Africa and beyond.
🔎 In summary
Sierra Leone’s first 5G network—powered substantially by solar PV, battery systems, and generators—is a pioneering initiative that promises both connectivity upgrades and energy resilience. With near-constant uptime and eco-friendly power, it’s a powerful model for sustainable tech infrastructure.
www.multilinks.biz
By
