Olleh intensifies 4G technology expansion drive

Olleh-Rwanda Network, the Internet service provider, has beefed up efforts to boost coverage of the Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) Internet service in the country.

Wednesday, September 09, 2015
Rosemary Mbabazi, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth and ICT, (R) chats with Yoon (2nd R) as other officials look on. (Jean d'Amour Mbonyinshuti)

Olleh-Rwanda Network, the Internet service provider, has beefed up efforts to boost coverage of the Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) Internet service in the country.

Officials say the coverage is expected to be 95 per cent by 2017.

Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution is expected to accelerate business and technology in various sectors.

Olleh Rwanda networks, wholesalers of the 4G LTE services in the country, announced this during the unveiling of a modern one-stop centre dubbed, "4G Square,” for 4G LTE promotion and experience in Rubavu on Tuesday.

Also launched was a 4G LTE Centre as part of Olleh Rwanda Network’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) at Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle, a youth centre that helps young people in various development activities.

The facility will provide 4G customer support, experience, promotions as well as subscription.

Patrick Yoon, the Olleh Rwanda Network chief executive, said they were working hard to ensure that the 4GLTE coverage reaches as big a number as possible and the plan is to cover the whole country by 2017.

He said the move aims to help Rwandans, especially the youth, to be more innovative and creative in technology to venture into various businesses and develop themselves and the country as a whole.

Yoon added that currently 4G internet coverage is operational in seven cities and it is projected that by next month they will have covered thirteen cities of the country.

"I had more than three meetings with local business people and they would like to create new business with 4G, before they never thought of it. But now they are thinking of creating new businesses with innovative thinking, that is what I am looking at and what I am seeing about the changes of 4G in the country,” Yoon said.

4G beneficiaries and local leaders in Rubavu District welcomed the new and fast Internet connection, saying it will not only enhance innovation and creativity through research but also help them to have fun.

"It will be easy to do business, the youth, including students in various higher institutions of learning, also have to explore this opportunity so that the number of Internet users increase,” Janvier Murenzi, Rubavu vice mayor for economic affairs and development, said.

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