More Rwandans could soon access mobile broadband technologies following the signing of a partnership deal between the Ministry of Youth and ICT and Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), a global association of mobile operators, to undertake a number of initiatives to achieve this goal.

Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister for Youth and ICT, noted that broadband connectivity was essential in the competitive global economy.

"We have already made significant progress for the widespread adoption of ICT, particularly in the health, government, education, agriculture, business and finance sectors. Therefore, the partnership with GSMA will help us to further accelerate this progress, with mobile broadband as a key foundation,” he said.

Nsengimana added that the development would help the country meet its target of achieving a cashless and paperless economy by 2020.

Isabelle Mauro, the GSMA Africa and Middle East chief, said under the deal, they would develop joint forums to bost institutional capacities and policies, besides helping to increase understanding of the socio-economic benefits of mobile among the populace.

"We will also train ICT stakeholders on mobile regulation to foster socio-economic development, as well as expand financial inclusion through mobile money services, and ensure sound spectrum management,” Mauro added.

She said they will contribute to the development of the national broadband strategies to promote digital inclusion.

"Our focus will be on spectrum management to improve mobile broadband services, as well as and exploring mobile’s potential across sectors such as energy and water, financial services, agriculture, education and healthcare.

The two-year initiative is part of the $45 billion project in sub-Saharan Africa that has focused on areas like electronic payments, ICT in health, agriculture, and e-governance.

Tom Phillips, the chief regulatory officer at GSMA, said the collaboration will support Rwanda’s ambitious digitisation agenda, "which ranges from pushing a cashless economy and a paperless government to extending broadband to all citizens and enabling digital literacy and innovation”.

Of the close to 70 per cent of Rwandans who own mobile phones, 2.8 million of them can access the mobile Internet, according to the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority figures for September.

Mobile money subscribers across all the three telecom firm - MTN, Tigo and Airtel - stand at over 3.4 million presently.

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