The number of Rwandans owning mobile phones has increased slightly to 8.807 million subscribers in March compared to 8.769 million customers in February. This is an increase of 0.4 per cent, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) mobile phone subscription statistics for March indicate. This compares to a decrease of 0.21 per cent in February from 8.787 million at the end of January 2016 to about 8.769 million at the end of February.

According to the report, Airtel Rwanda was the biggest gainer with 1.676 million subscribers in March, adding 48,565 more clients from 1.627 million active customers in February, and 20,910 gained in the previous month. 

Tigo Rwanda gained 3,848 subscribers to 3.115 million in March from 3.112 million active subscribers in February. Tigo added 15,898 customers in February, according to the RURA report. However, MTN lost 14,849 subscribers during the month to 4.014 million clients, down from 4.029 million active clients the previous month.

The leading telecom had shed 55,102 subscribers in February. The increase of Airtel and Tigo subscribers in March has boosted Rwanda’s total penetration rate of mobile phones that rose slightly to 78.2 per cent in March from 78 per cent in February.

Indrajeet Singh, the Airtel commercial director, said the firm’s subscriber growth over the first quarter of the year was driven by its new revised tariff across networks. "Customers now call at a uniform rate of Rwf32/minute across all networks. We also offer competitive voice packs (Wiceceka) where clients get 60 minutes on-net at Rwf59,” Singh said yesterday, adding that the firm also has the most affordable data packs in the country.

Sunny Ntayombya, the Tigo corporate communication and government relations manager, attributed their gains to products that suit clients’ needs and stable network.

"We ensure that our products suit customer needs and give them value for money. Secondly, we guarantee an exceptional customer service experience. Most importantly, continued investment in infrastructure has helped us to expand our network and improve its reliability. All these make Rwandans choose us,” he said.