Pay-As-You-Go refers to a business model that allows users to pay for their product visa embedded consumer financing. A Paygo company will typically offer a solar product (predominantly solar home systems and multi-light pico devices) for which a customer makes a down payment, followed by regular payments for a term ranging from six months to eight years. Payments are usually made via mobile money, though there are alternative methods that include scratch cards, mobile airtime and cash.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, 43% of the total population is electrified, and only 28% of healthcare facilities have reliable electricity, this leads to serious problems, including the spoiling of medicines and the inability to use essential medical and diagnostic devices; even the lack of basic lighting and communications can complicate treatments, especially emergency procedures. Lack of electricity limits working hours and inhibits the deployment of medical technology.

As an effective way to improve the electrification rate globally, Pay-As-You-Go solar business model has been proved feasible in many developing countries, and more and more countries are deploying the Pay-As-You-Go pilot. it seems like a real hot and new things for many potential stakeholders has an interest in running their own Pay-As-You-Go business, but is it really that easy to run a Pay-As-You-Go business?

Globally, 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity, energy access is critical for inclusive economic growth and is supported by UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.