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Solar powered kiosks are charging phones in Rwanda



London (CNN Business) How do you charge a cell phone when you don't have electricity at home? In Rwanda, portable solar-powered kiosks are one option.


Known as "Shiriki hubs," the mobile kiosks are powered by 100-watt solar panels and can charge up to 30 phones at one time. They can also serve as Wi-Fi hotspots.Users pay 5 cents to fully charge a phone and 3 cents for 10 minutes of Wi-Fi at the kiosks, developed by African Renewable Energy Distributor (ARED). Users can also buy phone airtime and subscriptions to StarTimes, a popular TV network in the region.


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