SCF is considering an investment in Curvalux to provide almost 50,000 users access to broadband connections to SCF countries’ populations with less energy consumption, at lower costs, and higher speeds.

Curvalux is a manufacturer of solar-powered innovative fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband technologies. The Company’s aims to provide its customers with the means to offer broadband connections to global populations with less energy consumption, at lower costs, and higher speeds. Curvalux technology is suited to retrofit existing mobile towers as well as for the broader expansion of mobile networks in rural and urban settings alike.

During COP28, Curvalux, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), and Pegasus Capital Advisors signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aiming at also bringing sustainable, solar-powered broadband technologies to millions of Africans, fostering economic growth and improving the overall quality of life in communities where access to the internet is unreliable or non-existent.

The Challenge

Access to broadband and internet connectivity is still a major issue in emerging markets and developing countries. Particularly Africa is among the planet’s last regions where the lack of internet services severely impacts the lives of billions of people. Internet has become crucial for access to information, education, productivity and economic growth.

In developing countries, consumers primarily connect to the internet via mobile networks. Mobile communications towers consume 10 to 30 kiloWatts of energy each year, generating 200 to 600 tons of CO2 emissions annually. Mobile networks account for 2 to 3% of global power consumption or 1 Gigaton out of 36.8 Gigatons of CO2 released in 2022.  If the 2.9 billion people without internet access were connected to the internet through mobile technologies, an additional Gigaton of CO2 may be released into the atmosphere each year.

SCF’s Involvement

SCF is considering an investment in Curvalux to provide almost 50,000 users access to broadband connections to SCF countries’ populations with less energy consumption, at lower costs, and higher speeds.

Investment

 SCF will serve as Curvalux’s lending partner, such that the Company can fulfill open purchase orders and expand its contract manufacturer relationships. SCF capital will also be used to build production capacity in Mexico.

Technical Assistance

SCF has approved a request for a feasibility study that will cover:

1. Regulatory considerations in the country of operation
2. For Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) sites (target Community):

– Details/locations of the remote customer site where the CPE/CPE+s will be installed.

– List of CPEs installation locations and for each location

3. For Tower sites:

Identify potential sites for tower installation and provide details, among others, regarding ownership of the land, elevation, geographic situation, distance to the nearest fiber landing, road access to tower site location, vertical structure currently available at the site, local community security, water source, ownership of the sites, permits required.