Driving innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity: A vision for 2025

Just like that, we are more than halfway through the month of February. Fun fact: eight per cent of 2025 has already passed, almost a tenth of the year gone in the blink of an eye. As time moves quickly, I’ve come to realise that it’s crucial to stay aware of key opportunities on the horizon, particularly how innovation is shaping the future of business and connectivity. At MTN Rwanda, our focus for the year remains on how we can leverage technology to serve Rwandans better. Whether it’s expanding our network, improving our quality of service, enhancing customer experience, continuing our efforts to drive digital and financial inclusion, or enabling businesses to thrive, we recognise that digital transformation is not just about adopting the latest innovations, it’s about ensuring that these advancements improve lives, create opportunities, and empower communities. This year, our focus areas are centred around connectivity, home broadband, fintech, customer experience, and sustainability, each playing a vital role in Rwanda’s ongoing transformation. In our connectivity business, we are modernising our network to enhance coverage, reliability, and quality of service, ensuring that every Rwandan, no matter where they live, has access to high-quality mobile and internet services. Everything we do is for the betterment of Rwanda, which is why our focus areas are aligned with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2) and Vision 2050, driving universal broadband access and facilitating the adoption of smart technologies across various sectors. Global research closely links internet connectivity to sustainable economic growth. According to recent reports, the internet significantly influences economic growth rates, contributing around 3.5 per cent of GDP across major economies that account for 70 per cent of global GDP. To support Rwanda’s growth, MTN Rwanda aims to accelerate Home Broadband penetration, increasing access to reliable, ultra-fast broadband services so that individuals and families can seamlessly work from home, engage in online learning, enjoy streaming and gaming, and adopt smart home solutions. Through Mobile Money (Fintech), accelerating financial inclusion by providing accessible, seamless, and secure digital financial services remains vital to our mission of empowering communities, driving economic growth, and supporting Rwanda’s transition to a cashless and digitally inclusive economy. Whether it’s helping small businesses process transactions efficiently, enabling families to send or receive money instantly, or facilitating the shift to a cashless society, we are committed to simplifying and enriching the financial experiences of millions. For enterprises, our digital infrastructure solutions are helping businesses scale, giving them the tools to compete in an increasingly digital world. MTN Rwanda is building a foundation that allows businesses to thrive in the digital economy, expand their networks, and gain access to new markets. As we push these initiatives forward, we recognise that technology, when used responsibly, has the power to unlock unprecedented efficiencies and elevate customer experiences. One way we’re achieving this is by optimising our operations, improving customer engagement, and enhancing service delivery. Smarter network planning ensures faster and more reliable connectivity; intelligent customer support solutions help resolve queries more efficiently; and enhanced security measures strengthen fraud prevention in digital transactions. However, digital transformation is only as impactful as the number of people it reaches. A key part of our commitment to Rwanda is ensuring that no one is left behind. Bridging the digital divide requires tackling both digital literacy and smartphone accessibility. We continue to invest in initiatives like Connect Rwanda and offer low-cost devices like Ikosora+ to make smartphones more affordable and accessible. In parallel, we remain committed to fostering digital skills and literacy, equipping Rwandans with the knowledge needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Sustainability remains at the core of our long-term vision. As we modernise our network, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint through energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy adoption. Our Project Zero initiative reflects our pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Additionally, we continue working towards converting our fleet to 100 per cent electric vehicles and investing in eco-friendly business practices to ensure a greener and more sustainable future for Rwanda. As we move through 2025, the use cases of technology and the opportunities ahead are vast. With the continued expansion of 4G and the imminent rollout of 5G, we are well positioned to harness the power of technology and connectivity to drive sustainability, enhance operational efficiency, and elevate customer experiences in an ever-evolving digital world. Our vision is clear: to build leading solutions for Rwanda’s progress, leaving no one behind because we never settle for less. The writer is CEO, MTN Rwanda.

Opinions

Driving innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity: A vision for 2025