Rwanda, an East African nation, has a varied geography encompassing mountains, savannah and lakes. Its high population density, with over 13 million people primarily residing in rural areas, poses unique challenges for technology and telecommunications infrastructure. The capital city, Kigali, is the main hub of technological innovation, with a focus on digital literacy and connectivity. Rwanda's Tech Innovation City, KIC, aims to foster tech start-ups, providing a catalyst for technological innovation. In telecommunications, Rwanda is making strides, with mobile penetration rate over 80% however internet penetration remains low at just over 30%. The nation's energy sector is still developing, with a heavy reliance on biomass but an increasing investment in renewable energy sources, particularly solar and hydro power. Infrastructure solutions relevant to renewable energy, such as off-grid solar systems, are gaining traction, given the country's hilly terrain and dispersed population.

ITU Region
Region-1
Geographic Region
Regulatory Body
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority RURA
Rwanda world map

Mobile Network Operators

The are 3 companies operating mobile networks in this region.

Airtel Chad logo
Airtel Rwanda, a telecommunications company operating in Rwanda, is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa. Airtel Africa is a multinational company providing telecommunications and mobile money services across 14 countries in Africa and is majority-owned by the Indian telecommunications giant Bharti Airtel. Airtel Rwanda was established after Bharti Airtel was granted a mobile services operating license by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency in September 2011. The company launched its services in Rwanda on 30 March 2012. In December 2017, Airtel Rwanda acquired Tigo Rwanda, a competitor in the...
Country
MTN logo
MTN Rwanda, a subsidiary of the multinational telecommunications group MTN Group, was established in 1998. As of 2023, MTN Rwanda marked its 25th year of operation, celebrating its journey by planting 25,000 trees in Nyarugenge District, aligning with MTN Group's ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040. The company is the largest telecommunications provider in Rwanda, with an estimated 7 million subscribers, accounting for 62% of the market share as of July 2023. MTN Rwanda's shares were listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange in May 2021, making it the first mobile network operator in the...
Country
kt Rwanda logo
KT Rwanda Networks (KTRN) was established in 2013 as a result of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Government of Rwanda and Korea Telecom (KT). The partnership aimed to enhance Rwanda's Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure by deploying a high-speed broadband network. The Rwandan government provided an extensive dark fibre network, a national data centre, and spectrum as inputs, while KT was granted a 25-year spectrum exclusivity for 4G services. The government retained a 49% stake in KTRN, with KT holding the remaining 51%. This initiative was part of...
Country
Wireless Spectrum Bands