KIGALI - The government has contracted Harris Corporation, an American global technology company to provide state-of-the- art equipment to boost the National Office of Information (ORINFOR)

The deal will help increase the capacity of existing information network system to make sure that information and communication technology (ICT) reaches all provinces of the country.

"Six months back we started a research on the television and radio equipment that we will need in order to cover the whole country despite our hilly landscape and we realized that Harris, an American company qualified to supply the necessary equipment,” Information Minister, Louise Mushikiwabo told The New Times recently. 

According to Mushikiwabo, the business agreement that was signed towards the end of last year states that Harris Corporation will ship in the equipment and install it.

"The project will be covered in phases beginning with radio and by August this year 97 percent of the total population will be able to listen to radio,” she added.

She said that the entire project is expected to cost an estimated US$16m (approx Rwf 9 bn).

Harris Corporation officials have visited Rwanda three times and are willing to train Rwandan technicians to be able to operate this new equipment after it has been installed.

According to Mushikiwabo, the first installment of the equipment will arrive later this month and ORINFOR is preparing the sites where it will be installed.

The second phase will focus on television and the American company will also supply high quality equipment for television studios.

The government had earlier revealed intentions to transform Rwanda Television from analog to digital system.

"We are bringing digital television thus shifting from the analog system. The transition will take time since it is a big investment but we are sure that we will slowly phase out the analog,” Mushikiwabo added.

It is said that by 2014 all countries are required to be using the digital system.

Introduction of this technology this year therefore implies that Rwanda will be far ahead of many countries in as far as information and technology (ICT) is concerned.

Harris has previously worked in other African countries that include Nigeria and Algeria among others and it manufactures all equipment on order.

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