Airtel yesterday unveiled the 3.75G Internet in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. The mobile phone service provider terms it as “the fastest Cellphone Internet in Rwanda.”
Commenting on the new service, Airtel’s Rwanda country manager Marcellin Paluku said: “This latest technology on our 3.75G network will offer our customers the opportunity to interact with data in a different way. They will be able to share ideas with people globally to allow growth in the business and social sector.”
Paluku added that people in Rwanda who are business oriented whether in small or medium enterprises will benefit from the new development.
According to him, the Internet technology is up to 21 Mbps speed. He rates it as the fastest and latest 3G.
“Customers through their smartphones will access the fast Internet to explore all the relevant information in the social network, accessing e-mail, music as well as acquire knowledge through e-books. Companies will also witness increased productivity due to prompt communication,” Paluku said.
It’s only in Kigali that customers will be able to access the Internet. Plans are underway to extend the service to other regions in the country within this month.
Airtel Rwanda’s customers will have free daily Internet access of 1GB for the first two weeks, and 20 Rfw per MB from 6:00 hrs to 00:00 hrs and 10 Rfw from 00:00 hrs to 5:59 hrs.
Airtel Africa, launched its operations in Rwanda in early April.
Other African countries which receive similar services comprise Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles and Sierra Leone.
Three mobile network operators exist in Rwanda: the Rwanda MTN has operated in the country since 1998 followed by Rwandatel in 2006. Millicon/Tigo was founded in 2009.
