Bid Activity 19-08-2024 – Universal Access Development Fund

Activity / Bid Description

Request for Proposal for the Design, Deployment and Modelling of Innovative and Scalable Low-Cost Rural Mobile Broadband Solution Leveraging Low earth Orbiting Satellite Services.

The recently concluded Innovation Summit 2024 brought together hundreds of young delegates from across the country while showcasing innovative digital products and services developed by Sierra Leoneans demonstrating deep commitment to defining our digital future as a country. Central to this digital aspiration is equitable and affordable access to broadband across all segments of society including rural and remote communities. While the government and service providers continue to make significant effort providing reasonable connectivity across the country, there still remains some challenging gap in broadband access which stands at 2.7 million users equating to 30.4% of the population according datareportal.com.

However, the introduction of LEO services like Starlink and others in Sierra Leone as an enabler to inclusive and affordable connectivity is game-changing for universal service particularly in developing countries like Sierra Leone access to these services and opportunities is hardly available to users in rural and remote communities which are mostly connected by voice technologies like 2G/3G with a greater percentage remaining unconnected. This disparity continues to widen the digital divide invariably serving as a direct impediment to the country’s inclusive digital economy vision. To address this challenge, the Universal Access Development Fund (UADF), established by law to promote the provision and expansion of universal access to telecommunications infrastructure and ICT services in underserved and unserved communities; together with stakeholders has been subsidising the construction of new sites rural communities of need enabling operators to expand their service reach. However, the cost of deploying and maintaining telecom sites including tower, power, backhaul and associated logistics is on the rise, making it harder for operators to take data-centric technologies like 4G due to low average revenue per user in most of these communities.

In fulfilment of our mandate which aligns with Presidential Big 5 Agenda including, Technology and Infrastructure, Human Capital Development and Youth Employment Pillars; UADF is seeking proposals from capable Sierra Leoneans with the ability to deliver low-cost, innovative mobile broadband solutions leveraging Starlink or any affordable backhaul and gateway technology for multi-operator services in rural and remote communities in Sierra Leone. The solution should include comprehensive site design, power solutions, backhaul, Radio Access Network (RAN) implementation, and a sustainable business model.

Eligibility Criteria

UADF seeks to fund a team of innovative technologists whose vision aligns with our mission and work for an open, secure, inclusive and affordable connectivity for every Sierra Leoneans. In order to receive this grant funding, all interested teams applying must meet the following three (3) conditions:

Should not be a NatCA licensed service provider
Must have a registered business and a bank account as the time of submitted the application
Team members must have proven and documented expertise in technology
Prospective winning team will sign a commitment not to seek relevant license that enables them to become a direct competitor to mobile voice /data service providers in future, but would rather seek to be transformed into an infrastructure provider in the sector.