Rwanda’s telephone penetration rate dropped to 78.6 per cent in September, with the number of people owning mobile phones also decreasing to 8.853 million subscribers during the month, from 8.990 million users in August, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority monthly report for active mobile subscribers indicates.

Generally, the number of active mobile phone users dropped by 1.5 per cent in September. The highest number of active mobile subscribers this year was recorded in July, at 9.025 million users. Postpaid subscribers increased from 105,756 to 111,399 over the reporting period.

 Airtel Rwanda was the biggest loser in September, shedding 140,790 customers to 1.581 million subscribers, from 1.772 million mobile subscribers in August. This represented 8.2 per cent drop. Market leader, MTN Rwanda also lost 5,687 clients in September, from 4.099 million subscribers in August, to 4.093 million active users in September. On the contrary, Tigo Rwanda gained 9,238 subscribers, to 3.178 million clients in September, from 3.169 million users in August.

Sunny Ntayombya, the corporate communications and government relations manager at Tigo, attributed the increase in subscribers in the months of August and September to customer-focused services and products provided by the telecom firm.

Ntayombya said the numbers are expected to surge further, thanks to the ongoing end of year promotion, ‘Ba Miliyoneri”, which started last month to reward customers for their loyalty.