African Start up

Could this little black box beat Facebook in race to connect Africa?

By Heenali Patel, for CNN
3 minute read
Updated 7:35 AM EST, Thu January 14, 2016
Kenyan-based tech company BRCK developed this modem made with Africa's limited connection and power in mind.
Kenyan-based tech company BRCK developed this modem made with Africa's limited connection and power in mind.
BRCK
"We asked ourselves why we're using technology designed to work in London or New York when we live in Nairobi," says BRCK CEO Erik Hersman. "This led us to create something that has true redundancies built in. It can work for a full 8-hour workday without external power and it will allow 20 devices to connect to it at one time."
"We asked ourselves why we're using technology designed to work in London or New York when we live in Nairobi," says BRCK CEO Erik Hersman. "This led us to create something that has true redundancies built in. It can work for a full 8-hour workday without external power and it will allow 20 devices to connect to it at one time."
Courtesy BRCK
In 2015, BRCK began the initiative BRCK Education to deliver reliable internet access to schools in remote areas.
In 2015, BRCK began the initiative BRCK Education to deliver reliable internet access to schools in remote areas.
Courtesy BRCK
Light House Grace Academy in Kawangware, Nairobi, is one of the first schools to test out BRCK's "Kio Kit" -- a tough tablet designed to provide digital education to primary school children.
Light House Grace Academy in Kawangware, Nairobi, is one of the first schools to test out BRCK's "Kio Kit" -- a tough tablet designed to provide digital education to primary school children.
BRCK
Light House Grace Academy schoolmaster Pastor George Njenga says: "When the Kio Kit came to our school it changed the way learning is done in class. It's very user-friendly and makes learning interesting."
Light House Grace Academy schoolmaster Pastor George Njenga says: "When the Kio Kit came to our school it changed the way learning is done in class. It's very user-friendly and makes learning interesting."
SIMON MAINA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
"The Kio Kit allows the learning of several subjects with ease because everything is stored in the memory of the tablet; one can switch from one topic to the next easily," says schoolmaster Pastor George.
"The Kio Kit allows the learning of several subjects with ease because everything is stored in the memory of the tablet; one can switch from one topic to the next easily," says schoolmaster Pastor George.
SIMON MAINA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
"The Kio Kit has made the work of the teacher very easy," says George. "The teacher only needs to instruct and the students follow as they listen to the lesson through the microphones that come with the kit."
"The Kio Kit has made the work of the teacher very easy," says George. "The teacher only needs to instruct and the students follow as they listen to the lesson through the microphones that come with the kit."
SIMON MAINA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Academy currently teaches over 600 children and the Kio Kit, with its resilient and compact design is proving successful so far. Pastor George says: "This kit is what is needed, especially here in African schools were electricity and space is a problem."
The Academy currently teaches over 600 children and the Kio Kit, with its resilient and compact design is proving successful so far. Pastor George says: "This kit is what is needed, especially here in African schools were electricity and space is a problem."
SIMON MAINA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Since 2013, BRCK has sold over 2,500 devices in 54 countries. CEO Erik Hersman says: "The next generation of BRCK device will come out this year as well, and as you can imagine, there is a lot of engineering and testing being pushed into that product."
Since 2013, BRCK has sold over 2,500 devices in 54 countries. CEO Erik Hersman says: "The next generation of BRCK device will come out this year as well, and as you can imagine, there is a lot of engineering and testing being pushed into that product."
Courtesy Jonathan Shuler / BRCK
This little black box could change the way internet works in Africa

Story highlights

Kenyan start-up BRCK has raised $3 million for an invention to boost internet access in Africa

The tech company founded BRCK Education to give digital tools to schools in remote areas

CNN  — 

Kenyan start-up BRCK has secured $3 million in funding for an invention that could change internet connectivity across Africa.

Their product, called “the BRCK”, is a rugged modem designed for harsh environments with limited connection and power.

What makes it noteworthy is that it can hop between different types of connections such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi and 3G or 4G.

It also comes with eight hours of battery, crucial during Africa’s frequent power blackouts.

BRCK CEO Erik Hersman says the device has the potential to help millions facing the daily frustrations of power cuts and patchy internet.

“Most of the organizations working to increase access to the internet in Africa are dealing with it at the infrastructure level, with satellites or undersea cable, with mobile phone towers – and even balloons and drones,” Hersman told CNN.

He added: “BRCK deals with the last meter of internet connectivity in the bus stops and kiosks, homes and schools of Africa.”

The small device taps into a wider scramble to connect Africa, with initiatives from tech giants like Google’s Project Loon and Facebook’s Free Basics both aiming to boost internet access for millions. Currently, Free Basics only allows subscribers to access a handful of websites for free.

According to Hersman, the BRCK will offer people an alternative, and less limited, source of connection.

“This is a direct answer to the ‘walled-garden’ internet access that Facebook is providing,” he said.

African technology going global

BRCK is proving that African-led solutions can lead the way for tech innovation not just locally, but globally too – and it seems investors agree.

Since 2013, BRCK has sold over 2,500 devices in 54 countries – most notably in India, where Facebook has faced some backlash over its free internet initiative.

With $3 million in its pocket from supporters including former AOL executives Jean and Steve Case and the TED organization, BRCK looks set for continued growth in 2016.

“A lot of this funding is earmarked to grow our footprint, distribution and team around BRCK Education across the continent and globally,” said Hersman.

Powering a digital revolution in schools

There are 410 million school children in Africa, according to the African Development Bank. The vast majority have little access to the internet.

Last year, BRCK rolled out BRCK Education, an initiative built to help solve the problem of providing remote schools with digital material.

“There are certain industries that badly needed what we had built, such as education institutions,” said Hersman.

BRCK’s “Kio Kit” includes 40 customized drop and water-resistant tablets, 40 earphones, and a plug to provide wireless charging, all within a rugged case.

“It allows any teacher to create a digital classroom in just a few minutes,” explained Hersman.

On the outskirts of Nairobi is Lighthouse Grace Academy, the first school to test out BRCK’s Kio Kit, using it in four different classes.

Schoolmaster Pastor George Njenga says the invention has so far been very successful.

“This technology is a great help not only for the teachers but also the students, who are really learning a lot. In fact, sometimes I think they learn more with this kit than with the teacher,” he said.

“I would recommend any school, anywhere in the world, to use it,” added the schoolmaster.

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