4G LTE broadband network launched in Rwanda
Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana officially launch 4G LTE.
Rwanda has stepped forward and launched a high-speed (4G LTE) broadband network. The service has gone live after it was launched in Kigali.
Speaking at the launch of the service, the Minister for Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana stated that: “The rollout of 4G LTE will speed up national development goals by speeding up ICT based services as well as creating jobs and proving new opportunities to deliver better services across the country.”
The launch of 4G LTE is one of many activities that our Government is putting in place so as to achieve a middle class knowledge based economy targets by 2020, Nsengimana stressed.
Nsengimana said that the Government had and will continue its support for ICT literacy to make the service impactful on the lives of Rwandans.
Patrick Nyirishema, the director-general of Rwanda Utility Regulatory Agency (RURA), described the launch of this service as an addition to the existing information and communication technology eco-system.
“It is a new addition to the ecosystem, whatever benefits citizens were receiving due to ICT development in the country, will now increase in terms of speed and efficiency,” Nyirishema said.
We are increasing accessibility and Internet speed, we are making it easier for people to do business and have impact on fellow citizens.”
On affordability, Nyirishema said that as the regulator, they were sure it would be good business and sustainable in the long run. He said the service will not be priced very differently from the 3G service that has been accessible previously.
“As a regulator we have an interest in ensuring that all the licensed entities are profitable because it is only then that we can have sustainability of the services they are issuing in the market. By issuing a license it shows that we are content that it is good business,” Nyirishema said.
Under the EDPRS2 program, the government targets to have 95 per cent of citizens with access to fast and secure 4G LTE Internet by 2017.
A 4G LTE network is one that operates at the leading edge of speed and reliability while 3G refers to a networking standard in cell phone technology that is capable of providing high-speed data service to mobile devices.
Staff Writer
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