d.light partners with Orange to bring affordable solar products to 11 African nations

d.light, a company known for its transformational household products and affordable financing for low-income households, has formed a strategic partnership with global telecom operator Orange. This collaboration aims to expand access to d.light’s range of low-cost solar products for customers in 11 African countries.

Through Orange’s Smart Energies platform, d.light’s solar-powered products—including solar home systems, solar inverters, TVs, fans, and portable solar torches—are now available to Orange customers. The partnership is currently operational in Ivory Coast, where Orange serves thirty million customers, as well as in Cameroon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Plans are underway to extend this initiative to five more African countries: Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and the Central African Republic (CAR).

d.light’s products are accessible at Orange’s retail stores, partner outlets, and through sales agents. Customers can use the Orange Money service to purchase these products on a “Pay As You Go” (PAYG) basis, offering flexibility in payments.

Nick Imudia, CEO of d.light, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “Mobile operators are natural partners for off-grid solar providers like d.light as they have the scale and resources to reach rural communities not connected to the energy grid. Operator billing-based mobile money services like Orange Money give low-income households the flexibility to make payments for solar products as they can afford to. This allows people to access affordable renewable solar energy solutions through simple mobile prepayment.”

Imudia highlighted the pressing need for improved electricity access in Africa: “According to the International Energy Agency, in 2022, 600 million people in Africa were without access to electricity. The global pandemic and international energy crisis have slowed progress in improving electricity access across the continent. There is still much work to do to extend reliable, affordable electricity to low-income households and off-grid communities in Africa, enabling them to benefit from improved living standards, opportunities, and economic development.”

Imudia concluded, “d.light’s partnership with Orange in Sub-Saharan Africa allows us to leverage our expertise in high-quality solar products and affordable personal finance for a wider impact. This collaboration supports d.light’s goal to transform the lives of more than one billion people worldwide by 2030 with access to clean, safe solar energy.”