RWANDA UTILITIES REGULATORY RWANDA UTILITIES REGULATORY AGENCY (RURA)AGENCY (RURA)
WORKSHOP ON UNIVERSAL ACCESWORKSHOP ON UNIVERSAL ACCES1-4 MARCH, 20051-4 MARCH, 2005NAIROBI, KENYANAIROBI, KENYA
CONTENTCONTENT
I - INTRODUCTIONI - INTRODUCTION
II – BACKGROUNDII – BACKGROUND
III- REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTIII- REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
IV. UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO BASIC IV. UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO BASIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMUNICATIONS
V. CHALLENGESV. CHALLENGES
RWANDA’S POLICY AND RWANDA’S POLICY AND STRATEGIESSTRATEGIESI – INTRODUCTIONI – INTRODUCTION
Rwanda faces greater development challenges as the country Rwanda faces greater development challenges as the country is is
emerging out of the 1994 genocide and war;emerging out of the 1994 genocide and war;
Development policies and strategies have to take full and closeDevelopment policies and strategies have to take full and closeconsideration of these post-genocide issues with a community consideration of these post-genocide issues with a community address in all undertakings;address in all undertakings;
The development of universal capabilities, mostly at the The development of universal capabilities, mostly at the community level, is critical to allow full participation of all social community level, is critical to allow full participation of all social groups to the national socio-economic development process groups to the national socio-economic development process undertaken by the Government of Rwanda;undertaken by the Government of Rwanda;
This will require that access to information and knowledge be This will require that access to information and knowledge be made as easy as possible for all.made as easy as possible for all.
II – BACKGROUNDII – BACKGROUND
1- KEY SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND MACRO-1- KEY SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND MACRO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS.ECONOMIC INDICATORS.
Demographic featuresDemographic features
Female, young and rural dominant population with Female, young and rural dominant population with high density; high density;
Population: 8,128.553 (census: 2002);Population: 8,128.553 (census: 2002); Density: 322 per sq km;Density: 322 per sq km; Population growth rate: 2.7%;Population growth rate: 2.7%; 83.1% of the population live in rural areas; 83.1% of the population live in rural areas; 1.757.426: households.1.757.426: households.
Macro economic featuresMacro economic features
Agriculture-based economy;Agriculture-based economy; 88.6 % of the national labor force working in 88.6 % of the national labor force working in
agricultural sector;agricultural sector; GDP per capita 202 USD;GDP per capita 202 USD; 66% of the population in rural area lives below the 66% of the population in rural area lives below the
poverty line;poverty line;
2 - 2 - RWANDA’S DEVELOPMENT VISION AND POLICY RWANDA’S DEVELOPMENT VISION AND POLICY
A- Government initiativesA- Government initiatives
The Government of Rwanda is committed to promote The Government of Rwanda is committed to promote the information and communication Technology (ICT) the information and communication Technology (ICT) sector, aiming at moving Rwanda from a traditional sector, aiming at moving Rwanda from a traditional agriculture based economy into a knowledge based agriculture based economy into a knowledge based economy.economy.
Designing of a development oriented ICT Policy and Designing of a development oriented ICT Policy and the building of a conducive environment through a the building of a conducive environment through a sector reform with the objective to promote the sector reform with the objective to promote the development of the ICT sector in Rwandadevelopment of the ICT sector in Rwanda
B- Rwanda’s development Vision B- Rwanda’s development Vision
The overall objective of Rwanda’s development The overall objective of Rwanda’s development vision is:vision is:
Rwanda to move from a least development country status Rwanda to move from a least development country status to jointo join
the emerging economy group members to year 2020;the emerging economy group members to year 2020;
Vision of an ICTVision of an ICT-- led development: led development:
Rwanda to modernize the economy and the society by Rwanda to modernize the economy and the society by the means of ICT as the development engine to propel the means of ICT as the development engine to propel the economy at accelerated growth rates, to reach the economy at accelerated growth rates, to reach natural prosperity and to ensure competitiveness.natural prosperity and to ensure competitiveness.
C- Rwanda ICT Policy ProcessC- Rwanda ICT Policy Process
The Rwandan ICT- led Socio Economic Development The Rwandan ICT- led Socio Economic Development PolicyPolicy
began in 1998.began in 1998.
The first phase concentrated on a comprehensive ICT- The first phase concentrated on a comprehensive ICT- ledled
Integrated Socio-Economic Development Policy for Integrated Socio-Economic Development Policy for RwandaRwanda
The document was adopted by the Government in early The document was adopted by the Government in early 2000. 2000.
The second phase of the process concentrated on theThe second phase of the process concentrated on thedevelopment of the first ICT Plan (2001- 2005).development of the first ICT Plan (2001- 2005).
D- MAJOR STAGES IN STRATEGY D- MAJOR STAGES IN STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION
This Plan 2001- 2005 is the first of the four to This Plan 2001- 2005 is the first of the four to bebe
developed within the framework of the Vision developed within the framework of the Vision forfor
Rwanda in 2020.Rwanda in 2020.
Stage1: 1st and 2nd Plan ComponentsStage1: 1st and 2nd Plan Components
Provision of infrastructure equipment and Provision of infrastructure equipment and supportsupport
Building ICT skills, both user and technicalBuilding ICT skills, both user and technical
Stage2: 3rd and 4th Plan componentsStage2: 3rd and 4th Plan components
Integrating ICT in all sectors of the societyIntegrating ICT in all sectors of the society
Core of the Rwanda ICT StrategyCore of the Rwanda ICT Strategy
Human resource developmentHuman resource development ICT in education, health, Agriculture and ICT in education, health, Agriculture and
FinanceFinance Facilitating Government Administration and Facilitating Government Administration and
Service deliveryService delivery Developing and Facilitating the private SectorDeveloping and Facilitating the private Sector Deployment and Spread of ICT in the Deployment and Spread of ICT in the
communitycommunity Infrastructure development – Including Infrastructure development – Including
Universal AccessUniversal Access
III - REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTIII - REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
1- Legal Framework 1- Legal Framework
√ The law n°39/2001 establishing the Rwanda The law n°39/2001 establishing the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory AgencyUtilities Regulatory Agency
√ The law n°44/2001 of 30/11/2001 The law n°44/2001 of 30/11/2001 governing telecommunications has governing telecommunications has permitted the openness of the market with permitted the openness of the market with new private actors entering into play.new private actors entering into play.
√ The law n°32/2002 establishing the Rwanda The law n°32/2002 establishing the Rwanda Information TechnologyInformation Technology Authority Authority
2. Telecom Profile2. Telecom Profile
Operators and Services providersOperators and Services providers : :
- Rwanda Telecommunication s.a. (Rwandatel) a state - Rwanda Telecommunication s.a. (Rwandatel) a state owned owned
fixed operator company under privatization.fixed operator company under privatization.- MTN Rwandacell, mobile operator- MTN Rwandacell, mobile operator- The African Rural Telecommunication (ARTEL), VSAT - The African Rural Telecommunication (ARTEL), VSAT
networknetwork operatoroperator- Mediapost, ISP- Mediapost, ISP- Terracom, ISP- Terracom, ISP
Other service providers include: Other service providers include:
Training and Capacity buildingTraining and Capacity building- Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and - Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and management (KIST), management (KIST), - The computer center of the National University of - The computer center of the National University of RwandaRwanda- Private sector initiatives: e-tools, e-ICT training center- Private sector initiatives: e-tools, e-ICT training center
3. STATISTICS3. STATISTICS
Teledensity: 1.8 for 100 inhabitantsTeledensity: 1.8 for 100 inhabitants
- Fixed telephone subscribers: 23,424- Fixed telephone subscribers: 23,424- Fixed public telephone: 3,933- Fixed public telephone: 3,933- Mobile telephone subscribers:135,214- Mobile telephone subscribers:135,214- Mobile public phone: 1,457- Mobile public phone: 1,457- Internet subscribers: 2,875- Internet subscribers: 2,875- Household with telephone (census 2002): - Household with telephone (census 2002): 3.3%3.3%- Household with radio(census 2002): 41.7%- Household with radio(census 2002): 41.7%- Household with computer (census 2002): - Household with computer (census 2002): 0.1%0.1%- Household with television (census 2002): - Household with television (census 2002): 0.1%0.1%
IV. UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO BASIC COMMUNICATIONSIV. UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO BASIC COMMUNICATIONS
In Rwanda, the rate of penetration of communications In Rwanda, the rate of penetration of communications means is means is
very low.very low.
For future development by 2020, Rwanda projects to have:For future development by 2020, Rwanda projects to have:
At least one community telecentre associated to various At least one community telecentre associated to various systems systems
of communications at the level of each administrative sector of communications at the level of each administrative sector andand
at each secondary school and even to a large number of at each secondary school and even to a large number of primary schools.primary schools.
The telephone density of at least 20% and the hinterland The telephone density of at least 20% and the hinterland connected to the communication network.connected to the communication network.
To achieve these objectives, To achieve these objectives,
The Universal Access Fund has been established by the law The Universal Access Fund has been established by the law n°44/2001 governing telecommunications and the n°44/2001 governing telecommunications and the
PresidentialPresidential decree n°05/01 determines its functioning and the Public decree n°05/01 determines its functioning and the Public Operators contributions.Operators contributions.
1. DEFINITION 1. DEFINITION
Universal Access to telecommunications services means in Universal Access to telecommunications services means in accordance with the law n°44/2001, the widest possibleaccordance with the law n°44/2001, the widest possible access on affordable terms and with minimum subsidy toaccess on affordable terms and with minimum subsidy topublic telephone service, by the general public in all parts public telephone service, by the general public in all parts of the Republic.of the Republic.
The provision of Universal Telecommunications AccessThe provision of Universal Telecommunications Access consists inconsists in
Supplying to any person who requests a connection to a Public Supplying to any person who requests a connection to a Public network with the serviced zone at an objectively justifiable network with the serviced zone at an objectively justifiable priceprice
Providing in each large city, municipality within a radius of 2 Providing in each large city, municipality within a radius of 2 km maximum, at least one public access pointkm maximum, at least one public access point
Providing in each district and trading centre at least one Providing in each district and trading centre at least one public access point, as well as the possibility of servicing the public access point, as well as the possibility of servicing the public and health services in the areapublic and health services in the area
Ensuring free carriage for call to emergency public servicesEnsuring free carriage for call to emergency public services Facilitating access to information technologies especially in Facilitating access to information technologies especially in
schools, hospitals and other public services schools, hospitals and other public services
2.2. IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDSIDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS
The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) has the mandate to draw up The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) has the mandate to draw up and keep up to date an exhaustive list of localities and file them according and keep up to date an exhaustive list of localities and file them according
to:to:
Access to telecommunications services provided in whole territory Access to telecommunications services provided in whole territory concernedconcerned
and the coverage by a network.and the coverage by a network.
3. TENDER AWARDING3. TENDER AWARDING
New Universal access service provision is awarded by auction within the New Universal access service provision is awarded by auction within the contextcontext
of a transparence process based on competition between interested public of a transparence process based on competition between interested public operators and as a priority to operators whose business is only confined to operators and as a priority to operators whose business is only confined to
ruralruralareas.areas.
4. CONTRIBUTIONS4. CONTRIBUTIONS
The fund is, without excluding other contributions, financed with The fund is, without excluding other contributions, financed with contributions contributions
made by Public Operators, who pay an annual amount of money equivalent made by Public Operators, who pay an annual amount of money equivalent to ato a
percentage of their turnover. The level of contribution is set by the percentage of their turnover. The level of contribution is set by the Regulatory Regulatory
Board not later than 31st January of each year. The current rate is 2%.Board not later than 31st January of each year. The current rate is 2%.
55. PROJECTS. PROJECTS
One pilot project has been launched for the provision of the One pilot project has been launched for the provision of the Telecommunications Services in 44 localities identified all aroundTelecommunications Services in 44 localities identified all aroundthe country. The project is implemented by African Rural the country. The project is implemented by African Rural Telecommunications (ARTEL) using VSAT technology.Telecommunications (ARTEL) using VSAT technology.
V. CHALLENGESV. CHALLENGES
Major Problems in Rural Areas include:Major Problems in Rural Areas include:
The majority of the population in the rural areas depends on The majority of the population in the rural areas depends on AgricultureAgriculture
Most of them live under the poverty lineMost of them live under the poverty line
The communities are isolated, not easily accessible and the means The communities are isolated, not easily accessible and the means of of
communications are not yet developed.communications are not yet developed.
The people living in these communities are often unskilled, with The people living in these communities are often unskilled, with very very
limited or no education and no capacity to improve their quality of limited or no education and no capacity to improve their quality of life.life.
