”The regional nature of the project will also enhance the harmonization of sector regulation across the countries of the region,” – Nkubito.

Government of Rwanda, under the Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme - Rwanda (RCIPRWA), has received a $24 million grant from the World Bank to establish Rwanda’s national capacity to provide broadband connectivity and access to low-cost international connectivity.

This project, which will also facilitate the country’s connection to global networks through the undersea fiber optic cables, will primarily be implemented and managed by Rwanda Development Board in Charge of ICT (RBD-IT).

RCIPRW will support both the public and private sectors by improving the telephony and digital traffic infrastructure,the country, thereby enhancing the quality and transparency of government and private sector ICT operations and service delivery. 

The minister in the president’s office in charge Science, Technology, Scientific Research and ICT, Professor Romain Murenzi said the government was delighted with the support from the World Bank, adding that, ”Coupled with the government’s initiative to install a National Backbone fiber optic network, this support will boost our ambitions to become a regional ICT hub.” 

"The project will bring high speed global connectivity to Rwanda, supporting the growth of business around ICT, and effective e-services to the people of Rwanda such as e-health, e-education, e-agriculture and many other e-applications.” 

The RDB-IT Deputy CEO, Nkubito Bakuramutsa, said that this paradigm shift will be the primary catalyst empowering the Government’s vision for Rwanda, which seeks to transform itself from an economy largely based on agriculture to one based on knowledge and information. 

"Significant benefits are expected to arise from the regional nature of the RCIPRW Project.  Enhanced Eastern African regional connectivity will increase cross-border communication traffic flows and will provide access to onward international connectivity through the submarine cable infrastructure under development along the Eastern Coastline,” he said.

”The regional nature of the project will also enhance the harmonization of sector regulation across the countries of the region,” he added.

Ends