Though Rwandatel failed to hit its subscription target by 30 percent that was set for the first half of 2009, management says its market share has increased to 15 percent. 

According to company officials, Rwandatel had set a first half subscription target of 600,000 clients but managed only slightly above 420,000 active subscribers on June 30.

The figure which represents both prepaid and post-paid clients casts doubts on Rwandatel’s ability to meet its subscription target of 1.2 million clients by December 2009.

However the company’s Corporate Communication Manager, Cleophas Kabasiita, said the current clientele base is still a milestone. Rwandatel is Rwanda’s second largest telecommunications company by market share.

"This is so far good considering the perception the public had. I can say that our campaigns have been focusing on changing the mindset of the public,” she said.

Patrick Kariningufu, Rwandatel’s CEO said: "When we introduced ourselves again on the market, we came out with really aggressive marketing.”

"These campaigns are just beginning to take hold and to translate into actual subscriptions,” he added.

Kariningufu observed that this paid back by capturing over 15 percent of the total market within eight weeks of operation.

Management is optimistic the 1.2 million will be achieved by the end of the year.

"Although the figures of new subscriptions are lesser than in the early days, they are still steady which gives us the confidence that we will be reaching our target soon,” Kariningufu stressed.

If Rwandatel, which is owned by LAP Green and Social Security Fund of Rwanda, hits its subscription target, it will be a boost towards government’s projection of six million mobile phone subscribers by 2012.

The current mobile penetration is estimated at slightly above 1.7 million out of the estimated 10 million people in the country.

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