NAIROBI: With the entry of Airtel into Rwanda last week, enthusiasm is high among subscribers as calling and messaging rates continue to go down. The lower tariff charges strategy which has helped Airtel to claim a significant percentage of subscribers from the regional telecoms, MTN and Safaricom, is yet to be tested in the Rwandan market. “We have been hearing that Airtel gives cheap calls. This is why I want to join and see whether this is possible,” Yvette Mukesha, a Kigali resident commented. With it's per minute billing at Rwf20 per minute on-net (Airtel to Airtel) and Rwf60 off-net (Airtel to other networks), the new entrant has to tighten its belts to overcome MTN's per-second billing and its off-net tariff of Rwf60 per minute. Indeed, Airtel's strategy is to connect Rwanda to the rest of East Africa via its money transfer service come next month. During its launch, the firm's country manager Marcellin Paluku, announced that the move would help to bring more clients on the network, especially the business community. Judging by its performance elsewhere, for example Kenya and India, Airtel is likely to put up a strong fight against its competitors in Rwanda.
