The foundation episode of a 6-part series exploring partnership-enabled market entry for a new telecommunications provider in the Solomon Islands. In a nation where 80% of transactions are cash and only 25% of the population has bank accounts, mobile money platform M-SELEN has captured 350,000 users in under two years—proving massive latent demand for financial services. This episode examines why the 75% unbanked, 70% mobile ownership gap defines the strategic opportunity for integrated telecom + fintech services. Explores the practical realities: geographic challenges across 1,000 islands, the $8.67 average cost just to reach a financial access point, the 11% fees on the $431M remittance market, and the competitive landscape dominated by the incumbent's proprietary mobile money system. Full research report: https://research.yuda.me/podcast/episodes/solomon-islands-telecom-series/episode-1-financial-infrastructure/report.md
