-
The Company
The Company
- Ericsson is shaping the way the world communicates. Read on to discover more about our company, its history and vision.
-
Thinking Ahead
Tech Talk
- Do you want to know what the Social Web of Things is and how we can benefit? Watch our latest Tech Talk film
Thinking Ahead
- All our insights, research, and discussions are here in one place. Use them for Thinking Ahead.
-
Your Business
- Government
- Transport Industry
- Utilities Industry
- Developer Portal
- Equipment Manufacturers
- Channel Partner Program
Your Business
- Take a closer look at how Ericsson can help your business excel in a rapidly evolving market.
-
Our Portfolio
Our Portfolio
- Find out more about Ericsson’s comprehensive portfolio of innovative products, operator solutions and services.
-
Careers
Careers
- A career with Ericsson offers outstanding opportunities for professional and personal development in a truly global organization.
Securing lives and livelihoods
Ericsson, together with operator Zain and the GSMA Development Fund, has expanded mobile coverage in Africa’s Lake Victoria region to help improve lake safety and boost economic growth.
July 29, 2009
Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, provides livelihoods, directly or indirectly, for more than 3.5 million people. Used for transport and trade, the lake is also home to a vital fishing industry. The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization says that 200,000 fishermen bring in an annual catch of 800,000 tons, worth about USD 590 million.
However, overfishing and lack of resource management have led to declining catches. The lake is also one of the world’s most dangerous waterways: it is estimated that 4,000-5,000 people die in lake-related incidents each year. Most are fishermen, who leave behind an average of seven dependents.
To help improve safety and security, Ericsson and Zain have begun to upgrade and extend mobile network coverage across Lake Victoria to provide people with better communication.
The first phase of the project was completed in 2008. Ericsson, in cooperation with the GSMA Development Fund and Zain, conducted a feasibility study into increasing GSM network coverage. Lars Stuber, account manager for Zain at Ericsson, says the objective was to “find a self-sustainable business model for this initiative and build the stakeholder partnerships to enable implementation.”
Since then, 21 new energy-efficient mobile sites have been installed. “The new mobile coverage now includes areas of the lake where 80 percent of the fishing – and the majority of fishing-related accidents – take place,” Stuber says.
The sites use Ericsson’s hybrid and solar solutions, which provide power where access to the electricity grid is limited or non-existent. These solutions use special batteries that can sustain a high number of discharge-charge cycles, cutting diesel consumption by 50 percent, and resulting in a smaller environmental footprint and operational lower costs.
Stuber says the second phase of the project involves the implementation of a coordinated emergency search & rescue service in areas around the lake.
“When you dial 110, the official Lake Victoria emergency number, the Ericsson CoordCom solution will route the call to the rescue and safety center coordinating rescue activities – from taking an incoming emergency call, to pinpointing the location and dispatching the right resources such as the police, fire department, medical assistance or other appropriate service,” Stuber says.
The rescue service will then use Ericsson’s Mobile Positioning System to locate the caller’s mobile signal, increasing the chances of a successful rescue.
Stuber says telecom infrastructure will also support the uptake of value-added SMS services developed by Zain. These include information on fish prices, weather alerts, safety bulletins and commodity updates, which can help boost local businesses, reduce the need for travel, and bring suppliers and customers together.
