BLUETOWN excels in India

Press release

Copenhagen, 6. July 2016 – In March this year, BLUETOWN landed a million dollar order in India when the company concluded a contract with the state-owned, Indian telecom company BSNL. The contract obliges BLUETOWN to erect 12,500 solar powered Wi-Fi hotspots in Indian villages. The contract ensures sustainable and affordable Internet access to millions of Indians.

BLUETOWN is now pleased to announce that the first milestone has been completed. In cooperation with BSNL, BLUETOWN can now provide Wi-Fi in India, more precisely in the cities of Kamakhya in the Kamrup district, Rahe in the Ranchi district, Beldarichaki in the Patna district and Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands – in 4 different states.

This means Internet access to more than 60,000 Indians that were previously isolated from modern technology and communications.  55% of the world’s population lives without Internet access, which corresponds to almost 4 billion people.[1]

Revenue of $74 million

The initial objective was to establish 500 sites by March 2017. However, if BLUETOWN succeeds in raising additional capital from investors, who want a share in BLUETOWN’s mission, BLUETOWN will be able to establish approximately 1,000 sites.

”If we leverage this contract to its fullest, we can achieve a turnover of 74 million dollars within a few years. The potential is huge, and we work hard to raise the last capital to execute on all parts of the project. We have an enormous group of people just waiting to go online”, says Peter Ib, CEO of BLUETOWN, and continues:

”For a relatively young company we have a very high success rate. We are engaged in a large, but also risky market. Despite market circumstances, we have succeeded with several of our projects worldwide, and we expect to reach our goal of a turnover of 149 million dollars in 2018 or 2019.”

A base station can provide internet access to thousands of people plus local institutions and authorities, including banks, post offices, pharmacies, medical centres, schools etc.
Thereby, a BLUETOWN base station will ensure that the schoolteacher can search online for inspiration, academic input and school assignments. The doctor can stay updated on prevention and treatments, and the farmer will be able to determine a competitive price on crops, find information about cultivation of the land and sell his products without too many costly intermediaries.

”BLUETOWN is a purpose-driven company with a positive impact on the communities in which we are involved, but we are not an NGO. Our business model is profitable. We form partnerships with local authorities that wish to finance our solution, because it improves their infrastructure and increases the level of prosperity”, says Peter Ib.

A digital India is the way to growth and prosperity

BLUETOWN’s cooperation with BSNL is part of the Indian government’s digitalization strategy Digital India Program, which aims to provide internet access for all parts of India and thereby improve infrastructure, health, education plus enhance the living standards for India’s 1.2 billion citizens.

A study performed by Deloitte shows that internet access enables growth, prosperity and improves the living conditions for a village’s residents considerably. A village’s economy can grow by up to 30% with internet access.[2]

India’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad, attended the inauguration of the new site in the State of Jharkhand. Ravi Shankar Prasad believes that BLUETOWN’s solution is crucial for the digitalization of India as it gives Indians the opportunity to streamline and share knowledge in all parts of the country.

The inauguration took place the 17th of June 2016 with more than 500 attendees, including ministers, MPs, government officials, local representatives and the Indian press.

 

Press contact
Anne Grandt, Head of Global Communication & Marketing
Phone: (+45) 3113 1336 (Denmark)

E-mail: press@bluetown.com

 

Peter Ib, CEO
Phone: (+45) 3166 0007 (Denmark)
E-mail: press@bluetown.com
Satya N. Gupta, Country Manager India

Phone: (+91) 1140 50 92 17

 

About BLUETOWN

BLUETOWN is a global IT company that provides low-cost, sustainable Wi-Fi solutions to connect people in rural areas of the world. BLUETOWN was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Copenhagen.
BLUETOWN operates globally with offices in Denmark, USA, India, Tanzania, Ghana, Peru and Dubai with a total workforce of 70 employees.

Since 2006, BLUETOWN has invested 7.7 million US dollars in the development of Wi-Fi hotspots to developing countries, providing people with online access and creating the grounds for improved healthcare, education, administration, growth and living standards.

[1] Measuring the information society 2013, International Telecommunications Union

[2] Deloitte: Value of Connectivity: Economic and social benefits of expanding Internet access. February 2014.