Bharti Airtel is to invest US$100 million in Rwanda over the next three years, with plans that include the deployment of a 3G network and mobile commerce platform.
 
A 3G network is planned for capital city Kigali in the next quarter with Bharti Airtel committed to developing wireless broadband services in the country. Airtel’s plans also include bringing in partners such as Ericsson and IBM to provide infrastructure and support and extending its network to rural communities.
 
The Airtel Money mobile commerce platform will enable people to carry out financial transactions such as direct fund transfers, bill payments and mobile top-ups via their mobile. No timeframe was given for its introduction.
 
The operator group started operations in Rwanda two months ago and CEO and joint MD Manoj Kohli recently met with the Rwandan president to discuss the company’s progress in the country and reiterate its commitment to working with the government. “Our strategy for Rwanda is in harmony with the government’s vision to make telecommunications a priority. We plan to work closely with the government to provide access to affordable telecoms products and services across the country,” Kohli said.
 
According to the National Statistics Institute of Rwanda, the country has one of the fastest-growing telecoms markets in Africa with mobile penetration standing at just 38.4 percent in July 2011.
 
Bharti Airtel also has African operations in Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.