19 January 2024
Rwanda aims to provide smartphone access to its entire population within the next three years.
In 2023, the government teamed with telecom companies to launch a gadget financing scheme. Repayment programmes allow residents to purchase handsets for US$16 and pay $1 per 1Gb of data for 30 days, including unlimited SMS.
Paula Ingabire, minister of information, communications technology and innovation, said that the most significant barrier for many people was affordability, as residents had to pay the whole worth of the smartphone up front to gain access to the device. As a result, the device financing programme was intended to address concerns of access, affordability, and digital literacy.
"We are optimistic that in the next three years, at least every citizen will have this level of access that allows them to benefit directly," said Ingabire.
As of October 2023, the ministry and telcos have been distributing 4G handsets to citizens in Nyamasheke and Nyanza.
