Rwanda

MTN Rwanda’s 2010 investment cut by 55%

On 02.06.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: 55% cut in the total annual investment in the year 2010 has been announced by MTN Rwanda. According to MTN Rwanda’s CEO, Khaled Mikkawi, there is no need to invest heavily in building capacity and coverage every year as the investment made in 2009 can serve in 2010 and what is required now is to maintain what was built last year.

Currently, MTN has close to two million subscribers and this year they are targeting an extra million subscribers to make up the three million.

Around USD100 million has been invested by MTN in 2009 in the expansion of network coverage and increased capacity to serve three million customers.

MTN Rwanda launches mobile money service

On 02.05.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: ‘Mobile Money’ service has been launched by MTN Rwanda in partnership with Commercial Bank of Rwanda (BCR) after an investment of USD2 million. The new service enables customers on the MTN network to carry out financial transactions using their wireless handset through the 120 agents nationwide appointed by the operator.

The service is targeting 100, 000 subscribers in the year 2010. Non subscribers can also use MTN’s service.

According to Khaled Mikkawi, CEO at MTN Rwanda, MTNs network reaches over 90% or the population and it is only right that it leverage this coverage for a common good product that will go a long way in the financial deepening of the Rwandan economy.

Tagged with: Africa • Commercial Bank of Rwanda • Launch • mobile money • Mobile Money Service • MTN • MTN Rwanda • operator • Rwanda

MTN Rwanda deploy Aradial Wi-Fi solution

On 01.11.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: To provide Wi-Fi services to the city of Kigali, MTN Rwanda has deployed Aradial AAA and Aradial Policy Control solution. The solution and the access controllers integrate to manage Wi-Fi base stations and operate with Ericsson’s intelligent network over the provisioning infrastructure of MTN. The move will ensure zero charging leakages in the operator’s pre-paid billing.

According to Rami Farah, CTO, MTN Rwanda, new solution will enable full control over the usage of the hotspots very cost effectively, while improving subscribers’ service experience.

Better internet connectivity could also be provided by the Rwandan operator to its customers, thus, increasing its profitability while eliminating the overheads associated with customer provisioning, authorization and accounting.

Tagged with: AAA • Africa • Aradial • Ericsson • Kigali • MTN • operator • pre-paid • Rwanda • USA

Rwanda receives its third mobile network service

On 12.05.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: African telecom company Millicom officially launched its mobile operations in Rwanda after receiving the license in December 2008, thus becoming the third operator in the country. The service will cover almost 50% of the population while there are plans to extend the service in the next three years.

The 3G infrastructure of the firm has been deployed in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda including other key urban centers.
According to Mikael Grahne, President and CEO of Millicom, Rwanda has emerged as a highly lucrative market with the population of 10 million, less than 20% mobile penetration and the country’s status as a highly developing economy.

With its strengths in distribution and innovation, the company feels that it can provide Rwanda’s mass market with mobile voice and value-added services.

Tagged with: 3G • Africa • Innovation • Kigali • License • Millicom • Mobile Operations • Rwanda • Value Added Services

MTN borrows 18Mn for network overhaul (Rwanda)

On 12.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Africa’s fastest growing and leading mobile network, MTN, signed US$18 million deal with six local banks to overhaul its network in Rwanda. The deal came after Millicom International Cellular, a rival operator, started its mobile operation in mid November.

The deal is a part of the 100 million investments, MTN is set to make in the network this year. The debt will be taken in two different installments of $8 million and $10 million payable in three years and five years respectively. The loan will finance the network expansion of MTN above the current 90 percent coverage and will help to strengthen its position in the highly competitive market.

MTN has over 1.8 million subscribers in the country with a population of about 10 million people. It was awarded a national GSM license in Rwanda in 1998. Country’s third mobile license was won by Millicom International Cellular in November 2008, for $60 million.

Tagged with: Africa • GSM • gsm license • Millicom • MTN • operator • Rwanda • Subscribers

MTN & IMI announce partnership

On 10.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Millions of mobile and online content users across Africa and the Middle East will reap the benefits of a landmark tie-up between MTN and IMImobile – an India-based software and managed services provider linked to 350 content providers worldwide.

The two companies have teamed up in a bold move to address the growing demand for content in emerging markets. This strategic partnership will entail providing MTN’s 21 markets access to a repository of current and globally popular content through enhanced delivery platforms. Content categories will include music (with local and international flavour), sports, games, entertainment, news and much more.

It will also enable MTN to launch new income-generating voice and data services across its global footprint, with revenues from mobile content and services estimated at around US$150.2 billion in 2011, up from US$89,3 billion in 2006, worldwide. (more…)

Tagged with: Africa • Airtel • ARPU • ASIA • Botswana • Congo • Cote d'Ivoire • Cyprus • Essar • Ghana • India • Latin America • Middle East • Mobile Advertising • Mobile Content • MTN • Niger • Nigeria • Rwanda • South Africa • Syria • Technology • Uganda • Virgin Mobile • Vodafone • Zambia

Tigo Rwanda to be launched by End 2009

On 09.23.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Millicom will be launching TIGO Rwanda by the end of this year. Millicom paid USD 60 Million for a 15 year license in November 2008.

Tigo Rwanda’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alex Kamara, told a newspaper that Millicom is still committed to what was submitted during the negotiation for the licence last year. In a statement Kamara said that they will launch before the end of the year and their strategies are focused on the service delivery.

Millicom holds 87.5% of the joint venture company in partnership with Marathon Corporation, an established Rwandan conglomerate.

MTN Rwanda and Rwandatel are currently serving over 1.5 million Rwandan mobile subscribers currently.

Tagged with: Alex Kamara • CEO • Joint Venture • Licence • Marathon • Millicom • Mobile Subscribers • MTN • MTN Rwanda • Rwanda • Rwandatel • Tigo

Bell Canada to launch Samsung Link on 15 July

On 07.06.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bell Canada will soon announce the availability of new QWERTY smartphone Samsung Link. Link seems like a modified CDMA version of Samsung C6625. The device is likely to features like: a QVGA non-touchscreen display, GPS, Bluetooth and a 2MP camera.
Bell’s Samsung Link will be replacing the Samsung Ace, currently offered for only $29.95 with a 3-yr contract agreement. The release is scheduled for July 15.

Tagged with: Cell Phones • Club internet • Equity Investment • Fast • Free Airtime • Indosat • MNI • Now Is Your Time • Rwanda • Slogan • South Korea

Bell acquires Virgin Mobile Canada & The Source (Canada)

On 07.03.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bell Canada has completed the acquisition of Virgin Mobile and the electronics retailer, The Source. The two deals in total are worth $277 million. Bell paid $142 million for Virgin Mobile Canada and $135 million for The Source.
Bell announced that Robert Blumenthal will become Virgin Mobile Canada’s new president, replacing Andrew Black who has headed Virgin Mobile Canada since it started in 2004.
“The Virgin Mobile Canada team has built a unique wireless brand with special appeal to young Canadians and a reputation for outstanding service right across the country,” said George Cope, CEO of Bell.

“We look forward to assisting Virgin Mobile Canada in maximizing the network, product, global roaming and distribution advantages that come with being part of the broader Bell organization.”

The deals came into being as Bell prepares to launch Virgin products at The Source’s 750 locations across the country in January. At that time, The Source stores will exclusively carry Bell products like home phone, Internet and digital television along with other electronics products.

Tagged with: Cingular • Extension • Free Airtime • IPLC • MCIT • Ministry of Communications and Information Technology • One-finger Zoom • Rwanda • Samsung SPH-W8550

Bell acquires Virgin Mobile, purchases rest 50% stake (Canada)

On 05.08.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bell Canada is acquiring the rest 50% stake in Virgin Mobile Canada worth CAD 142 million. The telco has also given consent to an exclusive, long-term licence to continue using the Virgin Mobile brand in Canada as well as cooperating with the Virgin Group on sponsoring and media events. The acquisition is anticipated to boost synergies between the Bell mobile activities and Virgin Mobile, from shared network infrastructure, handset acquisition and common distribution with third-party retailers. Virgin Mobile will maintain its branding and shops.

Tagged with: Insurance Corporation of Afghanistan • MoreMagic Solutions • Night & Weekend Plan • Niqatak Programme • OLED Screen • Rwanda • SMB • Telenor • Trilogy Dominicana