ICT bill in offing

The Government is set to come up with a draft law to guide the growing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

The Government is set to come up with a draft law to guide the growing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

This was announced by the Minister in the Office of the President in charge of Science, Technology, Scientific Research and ICT Prof. Romain Murenzi Thursday.

The minister underscored that the planned bill will enhance public-private partnerships, entrepreneurial successes, capacity building and cyber café protection.

Asked about the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) summit he attended last week in Cairo, Egypt, Murenzi highlighted several developments it recommended for Africa.

They include identification of the areas of ICT investment opportunities and those of challenge, share effective responses and to witness major achievements.

Murenzi added that Rwanda was on course with projects to help citizens get high-quality, and affordable access to voice, data and video.

He highlighted goals of Connect Africa, an initiative aimed at bridging the continent’s digital divide, with President Paul Kagame’s strategies on science and ICT advocacy at global level.

"We anticipate by 2012 to have reached 5 million mobile phone subscribers from the current 600 000," Murenzi said.

Ends