Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL) said that it has bagged the best wireless innovation and overall bronze for this year’s Technology Innovation Award from Wall Street Journal. The award is for VNL’s zero-opex solar-powered GSM system.

VNL has designed the solution keeping in mind the needs of low cost solutions for rural areas.

In a podcast, John Leger, news editor of the WSJ who oversees the awards, said, VNL is “a terrific winner this year and what’s interesting is that the technology itself is not a technological breakthrough but it will have a huge impact in emerging countries” and the judges were very enthusiastic about it (VNL)”.

Rajiv Mehrotra, founder, Chairman & CEO of VNL, said,  “We hope that the WSJ’s recognition of VNL will encourage operators in countries where there are rural populations not covered by a phone network to get in touch. We are the only company which enables operators to build commercially viable and sustainable networks in low ARPU areas. We have many trials in progress - finally operators have a way to reach the most remote communities around the globe.”