The initiative, carried out in Bugesera District, connected 63 schools, including 13 serving refugee learners through a partnership involving the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), UNICEF Rwanda, and Giga, a UNICEFâ€"ITU initiative.
Before the pilot, many schools depended on costly mobile-based 3G and 4G services that offered speeds of up to 5 Mbps. By grouping demand and guiding infrastructure upgrades, providers were able to switch schools to fixed wireless and fibre connections, lowering the cost per Mbps from about US$20 to US$9.
The shift also boosted speeds, with each school now receiving at least 25 Mbps, a substantial improvement for classrooms increasingly relying on digital content. Devices supplied by the government and partners helped complete the move to functional digital learning environments.
The project used Giga's real-time monitoring platform to track performance and ensure providers met agreed service levels.
'The pilot showed that the application of UNICEF's procurement approach is a powerful
way to engage with the private sector and obtain more affordable prices for school
connectivity,' said Denis Mupenzi, a Supply Specialist with UNICEF Rwanda. He added that fixed wireless installations contributed to raising speeds to levels more suitable for learning.
Rwanda's broader digital strategy includes ongoing collaborations with telecom operators. Airtel Rwanda recently connected 20 youth centres and 281 schools, providing free access to online digital skills materials. UNICEF is also working with network providers to whitelist e-learning platforms so students can access key content without data charges.
Teachers report that improved connectivity is already influencing classroom practice. Steve Nzaramba, a Communications Specialist with UNICEF Rwanda, pointed to the example of a teacher in a remote school who can now use online visuals to explain topics such as extreme weather, making lessons more engaging.
'By using the internet, he now demonstrates to his students different impacts of extreme weather, such as floods and landslides. This engages his students more effectively.'
UNICEF maintains that infrastructure alone is not enough, noting that connectivity is most effective when paired with devices, relevant digital content and proper teacher training, areas where Rwanda is expanding nationwide programmes.
With several African governments pushing for stronger investment in digital education, the Bugesera pilot offers an example of how coordinated procurement and infrastructure design can lower connectivity costs. The findings are expected to inform future efforts to scale school internet across Rwanda and the region.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
