MANILA, Philippines -- Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) is looking to deploy a GSM-based rural connectivity solution in the country, a top regional official said.

Called Village Connection, the solution was piloted in India by NSN last year. It basically uses GSM access points that provide cellular and broadband connectivity to access centers in remote villages.

A village would typically host one access point module comprising GSM radio, power and information technology hardware and software components. Each access point connects to standard GSM mobile devices and autonomously handles calls within a village through local switching.

Access points are connected via IP (Internet Protocol) links to a regional access center. The access center connects the villages to the main GSM core network and handles the calls between the villages.

Each access point requires minimum power and can be provided by solar energy, according to Joe Doering, NSN head for South Asia. The solution, however, will ride on existing telecom infrastructure of local carriers.

"With the right approach to operators here (in the Philippines), we can deploy a pilot as early as next year," Doering said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

He added different models can be applied to the solution, among a franchisee model wherein a telecommunications company can franchise an access point to interested entrepreneurs who can then resell services.

NSN will also be deploying its Village Connection solution in Africa, Doering said.