As energy access has become vital for our communities, we cannot allow digital connectivity to become another obstacle in the face of factors such as a pandemic, which has brought on increased social inequality throughout the world. Our priority is, and will continue to be, to ensure continuity of the services we provide and the security of the power system in all the countries in which we operate. In addition to this, as we move forward into the “new normal”, we must constantly and proactively consider the needs and priorities of societies to create and accept new challenges that redefine an increasingly competitive business model, develop new strategies and innovate processes through scalable solutions.

BACKGROUND

The development of digital infrastructures, services and applications has led not only to more connected communities but has had a direct effect on community welfare. Despite the evolution of network processes, approximately 3.8 billion people (half of the world’s population) still do not have access to the Internet. In developing countries, the lack of digital awareness and the high costs of service acquisition and infrastructure deployment have left a significant percentage of rural populations without the benefits of connectivity. As the world moves towards the post-pandemic digital era, we would like to propose a challenge to the innovation community in order to make tangible contributions to the development and connectivity of these rural communities and marginal areas in cities.

Enel seeks to co-develop with solvers in order to break the barriers of inequality and bring about new sustainable solutions that integrate social-environmental factors in business processes throughout the entire value chain. Through a constant and proactive approach to society needs, we aim to develop sustainable business models that can drive change in society and provide not only cleaner, more powerful energy for all, but also a sustainable development of communities. Among the solutions currently applied, we have for instance shared our power plants’ Wi-Fi to the adjacent communities in rural areas as well as seen digital incubators that have allowed rural communities to stay connected. As this socio-economic need grows, we must provide connectivity in an independent way by leveraging for instance satellite technology, low-cost technologies, microcredits or other platforms and business models that can transform these communities into more interconnected spaces.

THE CHALLENGE

Enel seeks solutions that aim to answer the digital connectivity needs within rural communities and marginal areas in cities to allow them to reduce digital breech and have an improved access to information, energy and other services including education and health applications. Our objective is to create a positive impact on the people and areas where we operate, where we produce our energy and where we dispatch it.

This challenge aims to address the following:

• Identify technological solutions that can provide digital connectivity in rural communities and marginal areas in cities regardless of the diversified Infrastructure development.
• Identify business models already in place to be developed or replicated in order to help rural communities and communities in marginal areas in cities to self-develop sustainable digital connectivity infrastructure.