Next-generation utility BBOXX on Thursday launched its Tomorrow’s Connected Community concept, in Togo.

The concept is aimed at unlocking the economic potential of entire communities in developing countries through access to energy.

Tomorrow’s Connected Community is being rolled out in the rural village of Sikpé Afidégnon, following its inauguration by Togo President Faure Gnassingbé.

The village comprises 300 houses and is home to about 4 000 people. Solar-powered electricity will now power streetlights, households, schools and small shops.

The community also has access to other utility products and services, such as clean cooking solutions, Internet services and water pumps.

BBOXX has implemented the concept in Togo alongside EDF, which holds a 50% stake in BBOXX Togo.

BBOXX and EDF are also engaged with additional innovative international and local partners to make this Togo project a reality.

The concept is run on a microgrid developed by General Electric to meet higher energy consumption needs, as well as BBOXX’s solar home systems to power households and small businesses. It showcases BBOXX’s complete solution to meet the developing world’s energy challenges.

All of the services operate through BBOXX Pulse, the company’s comprehensive digital management platform, which manages customer service and product maintenance using data and predictive analytics.

BBOXX CEO and cofounder Mansoor Hamayun said in a release that Tomorrow’s Connected Community demonstrated the company’s ability to supply electricity and other essential utilities to not only individual households, but to entire communities and businesses.

“By working with partners, we can truly deliver a decentralised and digitalised future in the developing world at scale. We have shown what can be possible and we look forward to rolling this community of the future out across other locations globally.”

To date, BBOXX has provided power to 12 000 households and has created 260 local jobs and opened 20 shops in five regions.