Information and communication services saw a 35 per cent increase in 2023, as per the latest data on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) released by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) on March 11. According to the data, the services’ value rose from Rwf 201 billion in 2022 to Rwf 253 billion at current prices. Yusuf Murangwa, Director General of NISR, highlighted during a press conference, that the growth was driven by a surge in both calls and internet usage nationwide, as well as an increase in the time people spent using these services. “We see increased activity in both calling and internet usage, which are the primary drivers behind the growth. This is different from previous years, where growth was primarily spurred by investment,” he remarked. ALSO READ: Rwanda lays out plans to accelerate mobile phone penetration Murangwa further noted that the upward trend indicates an improvement in people’s disposable income, allowing them to spend more on calls and internet usage, which in turn reflects positive development. Notably, mobile penetration in Rwanda has also over the past years increased. According to the fifth Rwanda Population and Housing Census – 2022 (RPHC 2022), the mobile phone penetration rate in Rwanda stands at 87.4 per cent. Data from Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) also indicates that the number of Rwandans owning mobile phones increased from 11.5 million in May to 11.7 million in June 2023. In 2023, Rwanda experienced a decrease in 4G internet prices following the termination of the monopoly held by Korea Telecom Rwanda Networks (KTRN), which had been distributing high-speed internet for the past decade under a 25-year agreement signed with the Rwandan government in 2013. ALSO READ: Ending monopoly for high speed internet distribution was necessary 4G and 3G packages are now available for as low as Rwf 2,000 per month. Additionally, the country’s leading telecommunication companies, MTN Rwanda and Airtel Rwanda, have introduced more affordable voice packages compared to previous years.
