Rwanda to acquire global broadband infrastructure

5 August 2012

Rwanda will be one of six African nations to benefit from new wireless broadband base stations, according to The New Times.

The equipment will be provided by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Nexpedience, one of the leading suppliers of proprietary point-to-multipoint broadband infrastructure.

Approximately 2,500 kilometres of fibre optic cable has already been laid down throughout the nation, as part of the ITU's efforts to bring affordable access to the world's poorest areas.

The focus of the project is now moving outside of Rwanda's cities, as Nexpedience's base stations are specifically designed for rural deployment.

A recent report by the ITU put the average price of fixed broadband in Africa at three times the monthly per capita income.

Brahima Sanou, director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau said: "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."

Category: ICT