KT has built Africa’s first nationwide LTE network in Rwanda. KT (Chairman Hwang Chang-kyu) unveiled its completed 4G LTE nationwide network in Rwanda at the ‘Transform Africa Summit 2018’, the largest ICT conference in Africa, held in Kigali, Rwanda on May 7th to May 10th.
ICT leaders from more than 10 countries attended the event, including the Ministry for Information & Technology & Communications of Rwanda and the Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of Angola.
In order to overcome the limitations of inland countries, Rwanda is actively promoting ‘development of human capacity and industrial development through ICT activation’ as the core agenda of the country. Out of the population of 12 million people, 8.6 million are mobile telecom subscribers, and an estimated 1.15 million people are smartphone subscribers.
With this nationwide LTE network, Rwanda will be able to use high-speed Internet networks. The nationwide LTE network has been established through a joint venture with KT Rwanda Networks (KTRN) and the Rwandan government in 2013, and began providing commercial services to Kigali in November 2014 for three years and six months.
It is being heralded as an excellent example of a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) project that has been achieved through close cooperation between foreign businesses and local governments.
Starting with Rwanda, KT plans to seek greater cooperation with African countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, Benin, and Senegal.
“The completion of the 4G LTE nationwide network is a remarkable accomplishment of the Rwandan government and KT’s close cooperation. We will actively support the government to improve the quality of life of the people through the promotion of full-scale use of services,” said Jean de DieuRurangirwa, Rwanda’s Minister of Information Technology & Communications.
