Uganda Telecom has secured exclusive rights to launch a ZTE supplied solar powered mobile phone in Uganda. The new phone was launched today in Arua, a Ugandan district which has been suffering from limited access to the national power grid. The company emphasized its commitment to developing products that are relevant to the communication needs of Ugandans, resulting in "Kasana", the country's first solar powered mobile phone on the market.

Even though Uganda has about 30 million people, 80% of whom live in rural areas with only about 10% having access to the power grid, mobile phone penetration is only about 30%. What this means is people who haven't got access to the power grid basically have to walk sometimes very long distances in order to charge their mobile handsets. With the solar powered phone, that need is now eliminated, and mobile phone users will truly be able to charge their phones on the go.

[via: Cellular News]