RURA’s directive to make USSD short codes work across all mobile networks is a welcome and overdue intervention in Rwanda’s digital ecosystem. For years, a system meant to simplify access to financial and public services has instead placed an unnecessary cognitive burden on users, particularly those with basic phones who form the backbone of mobile money usage. Requiring short codes to function seamlessly across MTN Rwanda, Airtel Rwanda and KTRN is a practical step toward fairness, efficiency and inclusion. The importance of this move lies in its focus on the everyday user. USSD codes are the primary gateway to money transfers, airtime purchases, bill payments and banking services for millions. When identical services require different codes depending on the network, the result is confusion, failed transactions and, in some cases, exclusion. For low-income earners, informal traders and rural users, these frictions are not minor inconveniences, they directly affect livelihoods. By insisting that any approved short code be activated on all networks before going live, RURA is restoring the original purpose of USSD, which is universal access. The directive also encourages competition based on service quality rather than technical lock-in, making it easier for consumers to switch networks without fear of losing access to essential services. That is good for users and healthy for the market. However, this reform should be seen as a foundation, not the finish line. While cross-network USSD access reduces confusion, it does not fully address the deeper issue of fragmentation in Rwanda’s digital finance landscape. True convenience and resilience will only be achieved through full interoperability, where mobile money platforms and banking services not only share access codes, but also allow seamless transactions across networks and providers. Interoperability would mean a customer on one mobile network sending money directly to another without extra steps or fees, or accessing bank services without worrying about the underlying operator. It would reduce duplication, lower costs for providers, and enhance financial inclusion by treating the digital system as one shared infrastructure rather than parallel silos. RURA’s directive is a clear signal that the regulator is willing to prioritise user experience and system-wide efficiency. The next step should be to build on this momentum, bringing telecom operators, banks and fintechs to the table to design a fully interoperable future.
