President Kagame arrived in Dublin yesterday for the 9th Broadband Commission meeting. As co-chair of the Commission since its founding in 2010, President Kagame will join commissioners for a two-day meeting to discuss three main themes: Broadband and the MDGs, Changing Roles of Telecom Operators and Content Providers, Challenges and Solutions for Rural Broadband.

With leaders in the ICT industry, policy makers, international agencies, the meeting will discuss the role of broadband in ensuring the achievement of MDGs, the role of service providers in developing services that serve society such as health and education as well as means to ensure broadband access is extended to rural areas.

Established in 2010 by ITU and UNESCO, the Broadband Commission for  Digitial Development is a response to UN Secretary General’s call to step up UN efforts to meet the MDGs. The aim of the commission is to boost the importance of broadband on the international policy agenda and expand broadband access in every country to accelerate the progress of MDGs.

During his first day, President Kagame paid a courtesy call on the President of Ireland, Michael Higgins.