Ingabire stated that Rwanda plans to build between 720 and 800 new towers to increase internet access to 97%, up from the current 83%. She explained that this initiative would require over $300 million in funding.
She made these comments while presenting solutions to issues raised by Members of Parliament regarding the use of technology and the delivery of services to the public.
The Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Sheikh Mussa Fazil Harerimana, highlighted nine major challenges faced by citizens, including areas where internet access is unavailable and others where the signal strength is weak. Some systems, such as those in agriculture, education, health, and tax payment, struggle with low capacity to handle user requests.
Additionally, there is a need for fast internet for land data systems, but many rural areas lack access. Other issues include system failures that hinder the delivery of services, inaccurate civil registration data, and communication infrastructure gaps in border areas.
Minister Ingabire explained that internet access currently covers 83% of the country, leaving 17%, mostly sparsely populated and rural areas, without internet. Rwanda has 1,781 communication towers and 24,949 kilometers of fiber optic cables.
She noted, "We are looking into the gap we have in terms of coverage. To achieve nationwide, high-quality internet, it's clear that we need to build more towers. Our country's geography, with many mountainous areas, poses a challenge where some towers exist but are situated on high altitudes, making it difficult for the internet to reach lower areas.'
The Minister mentioned that for full nationwide coverage, Rwanda needs to add 2,500 more towers. However, the country aims to first reach a 97% coverage, which requires between 720 and 800 additional towers.
Telecommunication companies in Rwanda are currently required to contribute to the construction of towers over a 10-15 year period. This will result in at least 220 towers being built by telecom companies, with the government aiming to add 500 more.
The Ministry has also established a fund where telecom companies contribute 4% of their annual revenue to support investments in underserved areas where investors are hesitant due to low profitability.
This funding has already led to the construction of 233 towers in the past five years, with plans for continued growth. The cost of building one tower is approximately $150,000, meaning the country will require $300 million to construct 500 towers.
Minister Ingabire noted that if everything goes according to plan, the required funds could be raised within three years, depending on the country's financial situation.
Rwanda has also started using satellite technology to provide internet access to schools where it is challenging to build towers or deploy fiber optic cables.
Systems failures and solutions
Minister Ingabire mentioned that a monitoring system has been put in place to assess and resolve issues causing system failures. The 'Mbaza' project was introduced, allowing citizens to report any problems they encounter with government systems or services.
The Irembo platform, in partnership with service providers, has also introduced a system to resolve issues quickly, ensuring that problems are addressed within an hour.
Regarding civil registration data, the launch of digital ID cards is expected to address many of these challenges. The integration of identity information into a Single Source of Truth (SDID) will streamline services, making them faster and more accessible for the public.
Currently, the Irembo platform offers over 240 government services, with more than 3,000 employees and daily transactions exceeding $300,000. Around 45% of users now pay for services online, reducing service processing time by 80%.
Language and accessibility challenges
While there are 264.7 government websites, only 3% provide content in Kinyarwanda. Those that do offer Kinyarwanda have collaborated with RISA to ensure information is available in the local language.
Cross-border connectivity issues
Every year, Rwanda conducts a national assessment of the quality of mobile network services to identify areas where improvements are needed.
Additionally, coordination between Rwanda and its neighboring countries helps resolve cross-border communication issues.
In June 2025, a joint assessment was conducted at border areas, involving the Ministry of ICT, RURA, RISA, and telecom service providers. Measures were taken to strengthen existing towers and build new ones to improve connectivity.
Minister Ingabire emphasized the need for continuous infrastructure development to ensure that internet access reaches all parts of the country, based on available resources.
She also stressed the importance of not just increasing internet coverage but ensuring that citizens are able to use it effectively.
IGIHE
