KAMPALA: India's leading telecommunications operator Bharti Airtel, already with a large presence in East Africa, is shooting to expand even further with the establishment of 2G and 3G networks in Rwanda. The company on Thursday announced it would invest some $100 million over the next three years to make the project happen. The company also added that it had been awarded a number of licenses to operate freely in Rwanda by the government. “We are pleased to be part of the vision of the government of Rwanda to take telecommunications forward as a priority,” said Sunil Mittal, Bharti Airtel's Managing Director, in a statement. “We will work with the government to bring affordable and best in class mobile services that add value to the lives of people of Rwanda and contribute towards bridging the digital divide in the country,” Mittal added. Mobile penetration in Rwanda is growing fast, with nearly 40 percent of the population connected according to the National Statistics Institute of Rwanda in July. “Rwanda is a key telecom market with immense growth potential and will strengthen Bharti Airtel's footprint in East Africa,” the statement continued. BM
