Telecommunications
Telecommunications is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Rwandan economy. Everyone is talking about the Internet and mobile phones. This applies both to the political leadership and to all strata of the population. The mobile network is relatively well developed, and you can make calls with your mobile phone in all cities in Rwanda. Even the distant hills are covered by the cellular network. In addition to the long-standing monopoly MTN Rwandacell, Millicom International Cellular (MIC) with its well-known brand TIGO has been on the Rwandan market since 2009 and, since 2012, Airtel has been the third provider.
The former state monopoly telephone company Rwandatel has already been privatized. The first successor company Terracom had started to build a second radio network. Finally it came to the result of the unfulfilled expectations of failure of the privatization project. In the second attempt at the end of 2007, the former investor LAP Green Networks from Libya took over 80% of the shares in what was then the only telecommunications company and committed investments of US $ 100 million for the start of operations. A smooth operation never came about, so in April 2011 the investor was informed by the national regulatory authority RURA revoked his license. The presumed connection with the collapse of the Gaddafi regime in Libya was denied from Rwanda. Since the beginning of 2012, the former Rwandatel estate has been in the possession of the aforementioned new Airtel market access.
In the capital, as well as in the most important large cities, there is the possibility of a broadband telephone and Internet connection with reasonable delivery times. Internet access is also available in the numerous Internet cafés. The number of internet users has been increasing rapidly for a few years. The responsible national authority, RURA, assumes around 6 million almost exclusively urban Internet users, which corresponds to a population share of around 47%. Comparative data from the World Bank, however, show that there is still some catching up to do, especially when compared to the leader in the Kenya region.
In the countryside, the government’s highly acclaimed ICT policy remains a dream for the time being. With the completion of the laying of a 2,300 km long fiber optic cable in 2011, an important future investment in the ICT area was made. The latest technology (4G LTE) was also officially introduced in the capital Kigali in early November 2014. Meanwhile, 4G internet access has reached 95% of the country. It is merely a matter of providing the basic infrastructure in cooperation with the Korean telephone company KTRN. Local telecommunications companies are responsible for marketing the relevant services to end customers responsible. However, only a fraction of private customers are able to afford 4G services.
Travel, transportation and traffic
In rural , shorter distances are generally covered on foot. According to pharmacylib, goods to be transported are then mostly placed in baskets on the head, in bags and on bicycles.
Longer distances between the scattered settlements and the local or urban markets are covered with the help of small trucks (or pick-ups). Another means of transport are minibuses, which are fully occupied but not overcrowded. These shared taxis transport people and goods over asphalted but also bumpy or slippery slopes. Timetables and stops are rather rare; As a rule, the buses only run when they are full. Regular minibuses or buses exist as a connection between Kigali and other larger provincial cities. There are also bus connections to the neighboring countries, to Kampala (Uganda) and Bujumbura (Burundi).
In the cities, small motorbikes are waiting on every corner to carry passengers across all parts of the city. These are the fastest means of transport, especially during rush hour, especially in Kigali. There are no rail connections in Rwanda.
The economic development in recent years has also resulted in a significant increase in traffic. The traffic jams and congestion that previously only occurred in exceptional cases are now part of the everyday cityscape during rush hour. Outside of rush hour traffic jams are still limited. To increase road safety, the state relies on strict traffic police. Emergency services stand on the streets at short intervals and carry out frequent speed and general traffic controls. Misconduct is consequently punished.
