Millicom launches mobile ops in Rwanda

Details: Category: Wireless Networks; 28 January 2010; 9504 views

Rwanda has acquired its third mobile licencee, now that Millicom has commenced operations. The newcomer covers 50% of the country, including 3G in Rwanda’s capital Kigali. Operations will be branded Tigo...

Millicom International Cellular has officially started mobile operations in Rwanda. Millicom was awarded its licence in December 2008 and will be the third operator in the Rwandan market. The service is launching with approximately 50% coverage of the population but with plans to extend coverage significantly over the next three years. In addition, the operator has deployed 3G infrastructure in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, and other key urban centres.

Operating under the Tigo brand, the service will focus on making mobile services affordable and accessible, with per second billing, low denomination recharges and a flat rate tariff of US$0.003 per second across all networks.

Mikael Grahne, President and CEO of Millicom, describes Rwanda’s importance to Millicom: “With a population of 10 million, mobile penetration of less than 20%, and a rapidly developing economy, Rwanda is a highly attractive market for Millicom....we believe we can make mobile voice and value-added services a reality for the mass market in Rwanda.”

* Millicom International Cellular is a global telecoms group with mobile telephony operations in 14 countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. It also operates cable and broadband businesses in five countries in Central America. The Group’s mobile operations have a combined population under licence of approximately 266 million people.

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