Simon Fjell

In the Philippines he is bringing digital access, talk and data, to remote communities that no other telco operator considered feasible. To illustrate this, he included everyone in remote unpowered communities with cellular connectivity for the monthly cost of kerosene they purchased for their lanterns. He provided a replacement solar lantern with a USB port, a smartphone and mobile services plan bundled on a Pay As You Go payment for the same monthly cost of what they had previously spent on kerosene.

Other innovations are providing faster video downloads than Netflix in the most remote locations totally free to the customer by incorporating sponsored advertising revenues.

He is passionate about connecting the unconnected with communications systems for everyone everywhere, bringing prosperity through financial inclusion with mobile payments for banking the unbanked, ending energy poverty with renewable energy at scale, wifi and online education to the bottom of the pyramid and sustainable development investments globally that apply sound business practices to vital issues with a world-class team.

To truly transform the financial lives of underserved people, mobile money must become a central monetization mechanism, universally available across a greater range of digital transactions. By making mobile money more central to the financial lives of these users, greater financial inclusion, economic empowerment and economic growth can be achieved.

He is also using connectivity to bring trust and provenance in to agricultural, fishery and plantation food chain by using blockchain.

Current work

Simon’s company is now rolling out an ambitious tele-medicine initiative by connecting an initial 5,000 hospitals and rural health clinics to enable remote diagnosis. This major contract was achieved by taking two hospitals with what was arguably the slowest internet speed in Asia (0.8Mbps) to over 300 times the speed. The fastest in Asia. This bold ‘worst to first’ beta test secured the deal.
These business innovations have resulted in business deals made or in process in Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Guyana, Haiti, Malaysia and Trinidad and Tobago.

Simon believes that innovation that reaches the bottom of the pyramid represents a massive opportunity and will be listed on NASDAQ this year.

He will talk about leadership and innovation and ‘getting to the future first’ as a pathway to success and fulfilment. His talks are in the form of personal stories and the outcomes of socio-environmental enterprises with fascinating communities.