Telecommunication
Infrastructure | Informatics | ICT Training and Development |
Broadcasting/Media
Telecommunication Infrastructure
La Société Rwandaise des
Télécommunications, RwandaTel, is the sole telecommunications operator in Rwanda which operates
under the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The Ministry has not yet established
an independent regulatory body to oversee the telecommunications sector. A draft law for
the establishment of a multi-sector regulatory body, covering the telecommunciation,
water, electricity, gas and transport sectors is under review in the National Parliament.
A telecommunciation policy has been approved. A new Telecommunication Act was expected to
be approved by parliament in October 2000.
Teledensity:
- Total: 0.27
(2001)
- Largest cities:
4.27 (2000)
- Rest of the country:
0.04 (2000)
Digital main lines: 100.0%
(2001)
Waiting list for a telephone
line:
- Total: 8,000 (2000)
- Average waiting time:
4.0 years (2000)
- Total demand (k):
25.6 (2000)
- Satisfied demand:
68.7% (2000)
Telephone Tariffs (1999):
| PSTN Connection charge -
Residential |
US$ 43 |
| PSTN Connection charge -
Business |
US$ 63 |
| Monthly subscription |
US$ 1.5 |
| Local call - 3 minutes |
US$ 0.04 |
Source:
World Telecommunication Indicators, 2000/2001
Public telephones: 400
(2000)
Public telephones per 1000
inhabitants: 0.06 (2000)
Mobile cellular subscribers:
65,000 (2001)
A South African cellular network
operator, MTN, is prepared to purchase a 26% stake in a consortium to own
and operate a cellular network in Rwanda. Others in the consortium are Tristar-Rwanda and
RwandaTel with 46% and 28% shares respectively. An X.25 data service known as RwandPac is
also available.
Cellular subscribers as a % of
total telephone subscribers: 75.1 (2001)
Mobile cellular tariff: na
Telecommunications revenue (M
US$): 17.6 (2000)
Telecommunications investment
(M US$): 16.8 (2000)
Telecommunications investment as
a % of revenue: 93.1
Telecom equipment exports (M
US$): na
Telecom equipment imports (M
US$): na
Community Access Centres: na
Facsimiles: 900
(1998)
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Informatics
The Documentation
and Information Division of the Ministry of Economy and Plan
used to have over 10 information professionals, but is now left with a qualified
documentalist and assistants. A joint project with UNDP is underway to rehabilitate the
services of the Division.
The Computer
Division of the Ministry of National Education has acquired 49
microcomputers (Pentium 133) connected to two servers (Pentium 200, 64Mhz) using LAN
IntraNetware 4.11. A total of 12 "prefectures" are linked to the network. The
Project, which is funded by the World Bank, has also provided 12 laptops for the Ministry
and a training programme on network administration and maintenance for 2 staff
members.
The Kigali
Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) was established in November 1997 and
it has about 70 Microcomputers in a Windows NT network.
The National Bank of
Rwanda is equipped with a local network comprising 110 microcomputers working on UNIX and
using the Oracle package.
The USAID
Leland Initiative has been highly instrumental in the provision of technical
support to RwandaTel
for the establishment of ISPs.
A National workshop
on "Information and Communication Technology Policy and Strategy for Rwanda"
was held in Kigali, Rwanda, on November 30 - December 3, 1998. The workshop was organised
by the Government of Rwanda, and attended by the
Ministry of Transport and Communication (MINITRANSCO), United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO), USAID,
and with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the UNDP Office in Kigali.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- Create an opportunity for
substantive discussion on ICT and how Rwanda can benefit significantly from these
technologies.
- Build a mechanism for a richer
understanding of critical issues related to ICT and practical steps by the government to
develop a capacity to use ICT in Rwanda.
- To firmly develop a strategic
thinking among decision makers on issues of ICT within the GOR.
The workshop is part of the African Information Society
Initiative endorsed by the ECA Conference of Ministers responsible for
economic development and planning in their May 1996 meeting in Addis Ababa. The overall
report of the workshop is available at rwanpap1.htm.
Computer
per 100 inhabitants: na
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ICT Training and Development
The Kigali Institute of
Science and Technology, the Adventist University of Central Africa
and the National University of Rwanda are making efforts to include ICT
courses at graduate and post-graduate levels.
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Broadcasting/Media
Radio Broadcasting:
Radiodiffision de la République Rwandaise is the state operated broadcasting agency.
Television broadcasting: na
Radios per
100 inhabitants: 7.6 (1996)
Television
receivers per 100 inhabitants: na
Pay TV
decoders: na
Cable TV
subscribers: na
Home
satellite dishes/antennas: na
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