• In summary:
  • Rwanda has connected all its 30 districts to the fibre optic network linking it to international sea cables, followed by the launch of the high-speed 4G LTE Internet, among other things.
  • However, a combination of constraints namely to do with the cost of the Internet and the digital devices, which remains high, lack of home-grown technologies as well as digital illiteracy are acting as a hindrance to the pace at which ICT could be changing lives.

Olleh Rwanda Network chief executive, cut a ribbon at Kigali City Park to launch the Smart Kigali 4G Internet connectivity for public buses

Despite Rwanda’s heavy capital investment in ICT infrastructure bringing about massive digital opportunities, few Rwandans are taking full advantage of it, hence slowing attainment of the much hyped digital economy.

Available technologies are yet to revolutionise the conduct of business in key sectors of the economy, even after the roll out of several initiatives to enhance digital penetration.

The country has connected all its 30 districts to the fibre optic network linking it to international sea cables, followed by the launch of the high-speed 4G LTE Internet, among other things.

However, a combination of constraints namely to do with the cost of the Internet and the digital devices, which remains high, lack of home-grown technologies as well as digital illiteracy are acting as a hindrance to the pace at which ICT could be changing lives.

“Most of the resources we have are underutilised and there are unlimited opportunities that are not being exploited,” said Pacifique Dusabimana, manager of K-Lab, the local innovation and entrepreneurship tech hub.

There is a difference from the children who needs food and those who want the internet

The majority of our citizens are more focused on what they will eat for dinner rather than thinking of ICT services, most people were farmers but are no longer able to afford the fertile land, ‘’swamps’’ where they used to enjoy harvesting their food Ndayambaje a local /citizen said.

“The demand is high, but the main question is how many people have Internet-enabled devices and how many can afford the cost of Internet as they are today.”

The situation, coupled with few locally-grown technologies puts local communities to be fed mainly on foreign applications, content and information portals that are not directly apt to their needs.

‘’ we do not need the internet all we need is food, soap, paraffin, clothes and normal things for our daily living not the internet’’

Except for technology savvy-people, a bigger section of the smart device owners only make use of the now available infrastructure for basic IT needs like social networking and sending e-mails.

Even though the locals show no interest or need for the ICT, the government is adamant that all Rwandan citizens will have to engage in trainings in order for them to use ICT.

Training campaign

While ICT Minister Jean Philbert Nsengimana admitted the fact that the costs of devices and Internet as well as digital illiteracy still stand as barriers, he found their intensity diminishing with time.

“Looking at where we are heading, the prices of devices have never gone up; they either stabilise or go down. And the trend will remain the same since we started to have computers assembled in Rwanda and tax incentives on imported ICT devices,” he said.

Mr Nsengimana said government would embark on the ICT use training campaign to address the digital illiteracy gap, targeting all the categories of the population — from the IT professionals, public servants, traders, students and regular peasants who own mobile phones, among others.

The drive would back government intention to put more of its services online besides initiatives intended for enhancing use of smart devices and accelerate broadband penetration.

Owing to the growing mobile penetration, Rwanda experienced the massive uptake of mobile money services, which has revolutionised the way people consume financial services.

Yet, other sectors of the economy namely agriculture, health, commerce, education are still moving at a slower pace to incorporate ICT as a game changer.

For instance, while the majority population is categorised as engaging in rain-fed agriculture, there is still an information gap with regard to weather and agriculture produce market which could have been easily tapped into by farming apps.

The ministry looks forward to the potential entry of tech investors into the sectors that are lagging behind. For instance, following the recent announcement of the drone port construction, the UK-based telemedicine firm has shown interest in operating in the country.

Government also banks on the yet-to-be launched tech start up fund among the things that could bring about tech innovations that could contribute to modernisation in a variety of areas.