Rwanda’s mobile penetration rate has dropped marginally to 78.5 per cent in October, 78.6 per cent in September and 80 per cent in August, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) monthly report for October indicates. This translates into 8.845 million active subscribers during the month, down from 8.853 million users in September. This is a decrease of 0.4 per cent of the total number of active mobile phone users over the month.

Rwanda’s leading telecom firm, MTN was the biggest loser in October, shedding 12,308 customers to 4.081 million subscribers, from 4.093 million active clients in September. Airtel Rwanda lost 7,643 users in October, from 1.581 million subscribers in September, to 1.573 million active subscribers in October.

These month-on-month drops in active subscribers come at a time when all the two telecom firms are conducting customer promotions, which are partly geared at attracting more clients.

On the contrary, Tigo Rwanda gained 12,308 subscribers, to 3.190 million clients in October, up from 3.178 million users the previous month, a 0.38 percentage rise.

Pre-paid subscribers dropped from 8.74 million to 8.73 million subscribers during the period. However, there was a growth in the post-paid market segment, with uptake growing from 111,399 the previous month to 112,606 in October, resulting into a total subscription level of over 8.845 million or 78.5 per cent uptake for both the pre-paid and post-paid market segments.