As 2026 begins, Rwanda stands at a familiar crossroads. We reflect on what we have built, and we decide what kind of future we are ready to support. For those of us entrusted with national infrastructure, this moment matters. Connectivity now sits at the center of how our country moves, trades, learns, and grows.

At MTN Rwanda, we do not view connectivity as a technical product. We see it as a national utility. When the network works, people work. Businesses trade. Families stay connected. When it fails, progress slows. That understanding shaped every decision we made in 2025.

By the third quarter of the year, more than eight million Rwandans trusted our network. That figure is not a statistic to us. It represents millions of everyday moments: a farmer checking weather patterns before planting, a student attending class online, a trader receiving payment instantly. Connectivity may be invisible when it works, but its impact is always tangible.

Throughout 2025, we made deliberate choices to strengthen coverage, reliability, and quality of service. Not to chase headlines, but to meet responsibility. A growing economy cannot rely on fragile infrastructure. A digital nation requires networks that show up every day, in every district. This means recognizing that building resilient infrastructure is ongoing work. While coverage has expanded significantly, improving quality of service in parts of the country remains a priority. Our commitment is simple: to continue strengthening the network experience so that every Rwandan can rely on it, everywhere they go.

We translated that responsibility into concrete investments across both advanced and everyday connectivity. We rolled out 343 additional 4G sites to close coverage gaps nationwide, while improving the quality of voice services to support communication needs that remain essential for millions of Rwandans.

The commercial launch of Rwanda’s first 5G network was one such choice. Not because being first matters, but because readiness does. Readiness of infrastructure. Readiness of institutions. Readiness of a country preparing for smarter industries, advanced healthcare, more efficient public services, and new digital enterprises. 5G is not a finish line. It is a foundation upon which innovation can scale.

Financial inclusion continued to demonstrate why connectivity matters. By the third quarter, over 5.8 million Rwandans were actively using digital financial services across our network, supported by more than 578,000 merchants nationwide. These are not abstract gains. They translate into safer transactions, stronger small businesses, and wider participation in the formal economy.

This work aligns closely with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation. Digital infrastructure is not a side project. It is central to inclusive growth, productivity, and national resilience. A connected Rwanda competes better, responds faster, and adapts stronger.

As we look ahead, responsibility only grows. Networks must be resilient. Platforms must be trusted. Access must continue expanding. But beyond infrastructure, our focus must remain firmly on outcomes: how connectivity improves lives, how it supports dignity, and how it enables opportunity.

The real measure of progress is no longer coverage alone. It is whether people feel the value of being connected in their daily lives. That experience, the quality, reliability, and simplicity of every interaction with our customers, is where the next chapter of our work begins. And it is where we will continue the conversation next week.

Monzer Ali is the CEO of MTN Rwandacell PLC