First phone enabled 4G launched in Rwanda

Tigo Rwanda the second biggest telecom company in Rwanda has become the first of three major telecos to launch the fourth Generation (4G) internet services on smart phones.

The service was launched alongside the ongoing Transform Africa Summit 2015, in Kigali. The event was officiated by the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union ITU, Houlin Zhao, Rwanda’s minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, and Rwanda Development Board, CEO Francis Gatare.

This comes at a time when rolling out of 4G internet has been facing difficulties in subscription as a result of high costs compared to the 3G and 2G internet but Tongai Maramba the Chief Executive Officer of Tigo Rwanda says the company is going to consider reduction of the prices as they continue disseminating the services to its esteemed clients.

Maramba said Transform Africa was the right platform to present the biggest 4G LTE news since 4G was unveiled in Rwanda in 2014 and the company is determined to make the services more accessible and cheaper.

“Allowing our customers to take 4G high speed internet with them without interrupting voice services aligns well with the summit focus this year – ‘Accelerating digital innovation’. As Rwanda’s leading Telecommunications and Internet provider, I am delighted that we have attained this milestone”

This 4G on mobile services was rolled out a few weeks ago and a user is only required to upgrade their simcard to 4G internet or purchase one at Rwf1000.

Han-Sung Yoon, Chief Executive Officer of Olleh Rwanda networks which operates the 4G internet said that over the past one year since 4G commercial launch, the critical mission has been expansion.

“The 4G network is expanding towards our target coverage of 95% of the country by 2017; the service expansion is on track with such partnership with Tigo- Rwanda. Together, we look forward to providing exceptional digital experience and value to users of 4G services through various innovative solutions.” Yoon said.

Rwanda Development Board, CEO Francis Gatare, called on other telecoms to emulate the example of Tigo Rwanda as a ways speeding up the 4G internet penetration in Rwanda.

The ‘Bus’ is moving and it won’t wait. The first to enter always takes the best seat. So we encourage others to come on board and do the same. There are still many seats on the ‘bus’ he said using a figurative language.