MTN Rwanda’s transformation has moved beyond being just a telecommunications provider to becoming a technology powerhouse. The company has completed the expansion, modernisation, and digitisation of its network infrastructure in Kigali City to better serve the diverse needs of both consumers and enterprises. This project that began in January 2024 will also be carried out in secondary cities and rural areas across the country from 2025. Central to MTN Rwanda’s vision is the belief that everyone deserves access to the benefits of a modern, connected life. This vision is being realised through the collective efforts of key players within the company, including Francis Ndamutsa, Yvonne Nshuti, Raoul Niyongabo, and Melissa Karemera. Alongside them, Betty Dusabe and Issa Nkusi Karera are driving MTN Rwanda’s progress in positioning the company as a leader in digital solutions for Rwanda's growth. ALSO READ: Corporate Corridors: The team behind MTN Rwanda’s growth, modernisation Betty Dusabe: Maintaining seamless connectivity Dusabe is the Network Operation Centre (NOC) Manager at MTN Rwanda, responsible for ensuring the seamless operation and performance of the company's telecommunication network. The NOC operates 24/7, serving as the eyes of the network to monitor and maintain uninterrupted services that meet customer expectations. Dusabe oversees a team dedicated to ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are upheld and network uptime is consistently maintained. Our role is to monitor services in real-time. If an interruption occurs, we analyse the issue as soon as an alert appears, report it, and, if necessary, troubleshoot to resolve it. Communication is key throughout this process to ensure service continuity. By effectively managing the centre, Dusabe and her team play an important role in delivering reliable and uninterrupted network services to MTN Rwanda's customers. “Whether it’s mobile money transactions through agents, sending money to friends or colleagues, or facilitating bank transfers, we ensure these services remain uninterrupted. By diligently fulfilling these responsibilities during the monitoring process, we uphold the reliability that Rwandans count on,” she explained. Dusabe said the centre is a prime example of where digital transformation is actively taking place. ALSO READ: Meet the faces behind MTN Rwanda's expansion, modernisation “For instance, when I first started at MTN Rwanda, we managed only two data centres. Today, that number has grown to just above seven, reflecting the rapid advancements and expansion within the sector, Dusabe said. As connectivity expands at MTN Rwanda, the demand for maintaining and managing these systems grows significantly. As NOC Manager, Dusabe views her role as pivotal in shaping the future of telecommunications both at MTN and across Rwanda. Without these centres, without the watchful eyes ensuring security and continuity, the telecommunications sector would not have reached its current level. We see ourselves as key players in shaping the future of Rwanda’s digital journey, she said. According to Dusabe, pursuing a career in technology as a woman requires resilience to overcome the stigma often associated with this path. Resilience is key. But beyond that, you need to invest in yourself. Find a mentor, join support networks, and continuously educate yourself. Don't stop at earning a degree or securing a job, keep evolving with the changes in technology. Attend forums, enhance your skills, and stay proactive, she said. By taking these steps, she emphasises, women can navigate the challenges and carve a successful path in the tech industry, achieving their goals despite the obstacles. For young women aspiring to pursue a career in technology, Dusabe encourages them not to see themselves as inferior in this field. Technology is not difficult; it's the mindset that needs to change. Women should approach technology with focus, positivity, and confidence, recognising that they are just as capable as men. If you're focused, resilient, and passionate about your work, you can achieve anything, she said. She emphasised that overcoming societal perceptions and being mindful of your career goals can help break down barriers and allow women to excel in technology, just as men do. Issa Nkusi Karera: Driving technological innovation Karera, who serves as the Head of Network operation and Maintenance, began his career two decades ago, playing a key role in the development of the Rwanda Internet Exchange Point (RINEX). Before RINEX, internet service providers in Rwanda relied on satellite connections to Europe and America, which resulted in high costs and slow speeds. Karera had the privilege of successfully interconnecting all local internet providers. A year after RINEX was established, MTN acquired a license to provide internet services in Rwanda. Karera joined MTN as an engineer responsible for internet services and later launched the first mobile internet service. “I was thrilled and grateful to the government of Rwanda for allowing a major telecom operator like MTN to contribute to Rwanda's digital transformation journey.” Karera played a key role in the technology budgeting phase of MTN Rwanda's network modernisation, alongside the planning and execution phases. “One of our business goals for network modernisation is to enhance customer experience by deploying advanced technology solutions to meet the growing demands of the Rwandan market,” he explained. During the execution phase, Karera's team replaced legacy equipment with state-of-the-art technology. “Cloud solutions, automation, and AI are transforming the global telecom landscape, enabling the convergence of network and IT technologies to improve productivity, scalability, and efficiency,” he added. One of the most impactful solutions recently deployed at MTN Rwanda has been the automation of real-time monitoring and reporting of network and IT events into a unified platform. “This platform proactively detects problems and equips my team to resolve issues before they impact users. We worked diligently to minimise service disruption during equipment replacement,” Karera said. He emphasised that real-time monitoring of network performance and proactive problem-solving were essential in ensuring minimal disruption during the project execution. “Network modernisation was carried out in partnership with industry-leading tech companies. At the end of the execution phase, we conducted project acceptance to validate whether the goals were achieved as planned,” he explained. Karera noted that the network modernisation has exceeded expectations in improving user experience. He assured MTN users that they can expect a significantly improved quality of service. “While issues may still arise from time to time, we are committed to proactively detecting and resolving them to minimise any impact on the user experience,” he said. He also shared plans to extend the network modernisation to rural areas. “We aim to bring the benefits of this upgrade to rural communities in the next budget cycle, set for 2025,” he added.
