If you’ve been wondering why your internet seems slow or spotty lately in Rwanda, you’re not alone — and you’re not imagining it. Many users across the country have been reporting issues with connectivity, especially over the past few weeks. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening, why it matters, and what we can expect going forward.
📉 Reports From the Ground: Real Users Are Feeling It
Across social media and community forums, Rwandans are talking about poor internet performance — especially with some major providers like CanalBox. Several people have commented that their connection has been unusually slow, unstable, or even dropping out completely. Some say it’s been going on intermittently for weeks, not just a one-off glitch.
Interestingly, a few posters have pointed out that many local ISPs source their upstream connectivity from the same supplier, so when there’s a problem upstream, it can reverberate across multiple networks at once.
🌍 Not a Full National Shutdown — But Local and Regional Issues
At this point, there’s no official report of a government-mandated internet shutdown in Rwanda like those seen in some other African countries. Reports from global digital rights organizations show that while internet freedom and online expression face challenges in Rwanda, there hasn’t been a recent, deliberate nationwide outage announced.
Instead, the current problem seems to be technical and infrastructure-related rather than political. Internet connectivity — especially fiber and fixed broadband — is highly dependent on international bandwidth and undersea cables connected through East Africa. Past incidents in the region, like subsea cable cuts, have caused widespread outages, showing how fragile the system can be when a key link breaks.
📊 Rwanda’s Connectivity Context
To understand why even small disruptions matter, it helps to look at the bigger picture:
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Internet penetration in Rwanda is still growing — hovering around the mid-30 % mark in recent years, with mobile access driving most users online.
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4G coverage is extensive, and 5G trials are underway, but reliable fixed-line broadband infrastructure is still developing.
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Projects with satellite internet (like Starlink) and expanded fiber networks are being introduced to boost resilience and reach.
So while connectivity is improving over time, it’s still sensitive to external factors like backbone traffic, international bandwidth shifts, and equipment issues.
📶 Why It Feels Worse Than It Might Seem
Many people today rely on streaming services, cloud apps, video conferencing, and real-time apps for work, learning, and entertainment. When even a slight dip in speed or stability happens, it feels dramatic — even if the rest of the infrastructure is technically “up.” Slow loading times, video buffering, and dropped VoIP calls are all symptoms of this stress on the network.
💡 What You Can Do Right Now
If you’re personally struggling with connectivity:
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Try switching between mobile data and your home Wi-Fi to see which one is more stable in real time.
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Restart your router or modem — it sounds simple, but it often helps with intermittent issues.
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Check in with your ISP for updates — sometimes slowdowns are due to maintenance or upgrades.
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Consider reducing high-bandwidth activities during peak usage times until speeds improve.
🚀 The Road Ahead: Resilience and Growth
The government and private sector in Rwanda are actively investing in digital infrastructure, from expanding fiber backbones to exploring satellite options that can serve rural and underserved areas. These developments are aimed at creating a more robust, reliable network that can withstand both demand spikes and technical faults.
Improvements are coming, but in the interim, internet users may still experience inconsistent performance — especially during peak times or when upstream issues occur.
Whether you’re working from home, streaming your favorite shows, or running an online business, you deserve an internet connection that works when you need it. By understanding what’s behind the slowdowns and how Rwanda’s internet landscape is evolving, you can stay informed — and maybe even a step ahead of the next outage.
