Rwanda to acquire global broadband infrastructure

Rwanda is listed among the first six African nations set to benefit from global wireless broadband infrastructure base station, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).ITU and Nexpedience, one of the world’s leading suppliers of proprietary point-to-multipoint broadband infrastructure, are partnering to bring broadband access to Africa.Under the terms of the deal, Nexpedience will provide 180 new expedience base stations worth $ 1 million, to be deployed in six nations across the continent.“The first nation to benefit from the new infrastructure is Burundi with deployments also planned for Djibouti, Burkina Faso, Mali, Rwanda and Swaziland,” reads the statement.Brahima Sanou, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) said that there is a strong need to ensure developing countries are part of the global broadband revolution.“This partnership represents another important element in ITU’s efforts to bring broadband technology to the world – even in the poorest nations. I am confident that this new development will accelerate broadband uptake right across the African continent, bringing the power of high-speed connectivity to users everywhere, from big cities to small villages,” he stated.Rwanda has laid 2,500-kilometre national fibre optic cable that is expected to enhance access to various broadband services in the country.ITU’s Wireless Broadband Network in Africa project will back up the already existing broadband infrastructure in the country, which would consequently enhance internet accessibility and affordability.Broadband Systems Corporation (BSC Ltd), a service provider managing a national fibre optic backbone, Internet Data Centre and Kigali Wibro is currently rolling out its broadband services infrastructure in the country.The Wibro connection which is currently in use with monthly fees of Rwf 20,000 for single users and Rwf30,000 for multiple users.Designed to withstand extreme meteorological conditions and capable of providing up to 32 kilometres of sector coverage, Nexpedience’s base stations have specifically been designed for rural deployment.ITU’s Wibro network project aims to develop and implement wireless broadband connectivity and applications that will provide free or low-cost digital access for schools, hospitals, and under-served populations in rural and remote areas Africa-wide.Kiriako Vergos, Chief Executive Officer of Nexpedience said: “Giving access to broadband technology to underserved populations in Africa is of great importance to us.“There are enormous benefits to be derived from a ‘broadband-seed’ deployment strategy, and we decided to partner with ITU because we know that the organisation has the team in place to get it done.”Dr Hamadoun Touré, the ITU Secretary-General, hailed the new agreement as a “major step forward in getting Africa connected”.Touré led the establishment of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development in 2010, which aims at putting broadband at the heart of the global development agenda.A recent report by the ITU indicates that affordability of broadband services remains a key obstacle, particularly in Africa, where fixed broadband access costs on average three times the monthly per capita income.

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Rwanda to acquire global broadband infrastructure