The remarks were made by Kunda Esther, the Director General of the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, during the annual Rwanda Internet Governance Forum (Rwanda IGF). The forum unites government officials, the private sector, youth, researchers, and civil society groups to advance internet usage and digital inclusion in Rwanda.
Kunda highlighted Rwanda's remarkable increase in internet users, attributed to investments in digital infrastructure, progressive government policies, and the expansion of technology-driven services.
She emphasized: “We have now reached 62% of the population using the internet, which is a significant milestone. However, there are still gaps in access and meaningful usage for all citizens.”
The Director General expressed concern over the challenges rural communities face, including limited financial resources to afford internet and lack of digital literacy. She stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to find sustainable solutions for these issues.
Private Sector Perspective: Alex Ntale, head of the ICT section under the Private Sector Federation (PSF) and representative of RICTA at the forum, acknowledged Rwanda’s advancements in technology development. However, he underscored the need to lower internet costs to accelerate adoption.
He stated: “High costs remain a challenge because the number of users is still limited. When more people use the services, prices tend to decrease. We hope Rwandans will be encouraged to integrate internet use into their daily lives, which would help bring costs down.”
Ntale added that continuous advocacy is needed to make internet services more affordable, with affordability directly linked to citizen adoption rates.
UN Perspective: Ozonnia Ojielo, the Coordinator for UN agencies in Rwanda, lauded the government for prioritizing technological advancement across various sectors. He reassured that the UN is committed to strengthening partnerships with Rwanda to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
These discussions concluded with optimism, recognizing progress in the internet sector while emphasizing the need to address existing gaps to ensure every citizen benefits from technology, regardless of where they live.
Kunda Esther, Director General at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, announces that 62% of Rwandans now have internet access
Leaders from government, private sector, youth, and researchers participated in 'Rwanda Internet Governance Forum' to discuss nationwide internet distribution
Alex Ntale, representing RICTA, urges Rwandans to incorporate internet use into daily life as a strategy for reducing costs
Despite Rwanda's rising internet penetration rate, rural areas continue to face accessibility challenges
Youth, who are viewed as catalysts in technological growth, are urged to leverage digital tools for entrepreneurship and research