Rwandatel has started the exercise of changing the use of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) mobile phones to its newly acquired 3G, Global System for Mobile (GSM) technology, which is flexible and has capacity to handle a lot of data.

The internationally popular 3G, GSM technology allows subscribers to utilise advantages that come with the usage of a SIM card, conduct wireless video calls and other benefits.

The CDMA does not use SIM cards and it is also not good for voice communication.

Patrick Kariningufu, Rwandatel’s CEO, said that the company is acquiring the old mobile phones and giving out new GSM enabled handsets to subscribers who have been active for the last one month.

The one month will see some 20,000 Rwandatel clients receive new handsets and it will also push the company’s GSM subscribers to 300,000.

The move is also seen as part of the company’s approach to beat the growing competition in Rwanda’s telecom industry, which is largely controlled by MTN Rwanda.

MTN Rwanda uses GSM technology while Tigo, the new entrant in the market is also expected to start with the same product.

"We don’t want our subscribers to be missing their calls from the old numbers, so we will be forwarding them calls from the old lines to the new acquired lines for the next six months,” Kariningufu disclosed.

Management also said that subscribers who had the same phones but not active for the past one month, will be given new GSM handsets but they will pay some money which is less the market value of the phone. 

"The network of these CDMA phones was in a few places, the battery is also very week and I think this was a very good idea that they have just come up with,” Antoine Bwimba, one of the subscribers who has just acquired the new GSM phone said.

According to Kariningufu, the exercise will be rolled-out to the country side where most CDMA subscribers are based.

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