Ncell initiatives shortlisted for GSMA Asian Mobile Awards

Kathmandu : Ncell’s two projects that aimed at connecting the unconnected and creating new opportunities in the rural communities have been nominated for the prestigious GSMA Asian Mobile Awards (AMOs) 2017. The company’s initiative to connect off-grid communities and another project that ensured access to drinking water and irrigation facilities to inhabitants of remote villages were shortlisted for the awards.

GSMA recently announced the short-list for the AMOs 2017, in which Ncell’s two projects have found place for two different awards under the category ‘Social and Economic Development’. Winners of the AMO awards will be honored at the Asia Mobile Awards 2017 Ceremony to be held in Shanghai on June 28.

Ncell’s project that promotes off-grid power solutions, making both electricity and telecommunications facilities available to communities out of national electricity grid in Khotang and Udaypur has been nominated for ‘Best Mobile Innovation for Emerging Markets’ Awards. Under this project, Ncell in collaboration with Gham Power Nepal Private Limited, have been jointly promoting access to solar power generated by three micro-grids and mobile services, creating new social and economic opportunities for the people.

Similarly, another initiative which has been nominated for the award is Ncell’s Water for Livelihood Project. This project has been nominated for ‘Outstanding Mobile Contribution to the UN SDGs in Asia’ Award. Under this project, Ncell has supported three hilltop villages – Eladi, Dipka and Thuladi – of Syangja district to access water through deployment of clean water pumping technology. The system equipped with smart metering enables communities to efficiently manage water for household and commercial farming. This has ensured access to drinking water, improved sanitation, increase agricultural productivity, improved nutrition and raised income of the households, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We congratulate all nominees for the 2017 Asia Mobile Awards,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA. “The AMOs highlight the technologies, products, services, companies and individuals that are leading the way in the Asia mobile industry today. We wish all those shortlisted the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating our industry’s best and brightest at Mobile World Congress Shanghai.”

In total, 115 nominees have been shortlisted for 12 awards across five categories: ‘Best Mobile Apps’, ‘Best Mobile Devices’, ‘Best Technology Innovation’, ‘Outstanding Achievement’, and the new category of ‘Social and Economic Development’. The AMO Awards are judged by more than 50 world-leading independent experts, analysts, journalists, academics and, in some cases, mobile operator representatives.