Kenyan startup BRCK, which creates the BRCK wifi device, has recently secured $3 million in funding for their product, which could advance Internet connectivity in Africa.

The BRCK wifi device is a solar-powered modem designed to withstand harsh environments and work using limited sources of power and Internet connections. It is also unique in that it can hop between various types of connections including Ethernet, wifi and 3G or 4G.

The device has eight hours of battery life, which is crucial due to Africa’s frequent power outages. BRCK’s slogan is: “If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere,” according to TechCrunch.

“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,” said BRCK CEO Erik Hersman to CNN. “BRCK deals with the last meter of Internet connectivity in the bus stops and kiosks, homes and schools of Africa.”

The African-led company has sold over 2,500 devices in 54 countries since 2013. Most of their sales have been in India. The $3 million the company has secured comes from the TED organization and former AOL executives Jean and Steve Case, CNN reports.

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

The majority of the 410 million school children in Africa do not have access to the Internet, which is something that the startup hopes to solve with its education program. The initiative works to provide remote schools with digital materials. Its ‘Kio Kit’ includes 40 water-resistant tablets, 40 earphones and a plug to provide wireless charging.

Schoolmaster Pastor George Njenga, who uses BRCK Education in his classrooms, told CNN, “This technology is a great help not only for the teachers but also the students, who are really learning a lot.”

With continued innovation, funding and expansion, BRCK has the potential to increase Internet connectivity across Africa and other largely unconnected parts of the world.

– Kaitlyn Arford

Sources: Tech Crunch, CNN, BRCK
Photo: CNN