Millicom International Cellular has officially launched its $52m operations as a third national telecoms operator in Rwanda with its brand Tigo.
The coming of Tigo on to Rwanda’s telecommunication market breaks the long-held duopoly of MTN and Rwandatel in the sector.
MTN which enjoyed a monopoly of over ten years in mobile telecommunication business is feeling the pressure after Rwandatel formerly in fixed telephone and internet business beefed its mobile phone business in 2009.
It’s expected that coming of Tigo will exert more pressure.
Though the dual had managed to keep their customers on the same rates, Tigo’s debut in the market charging as little as 1 Rwf per unit may throw them off balance.
As early as 10 am, Tigo products had hit stalls with customers turning up in big numbers buying fully connect cell phone at $17 each.
According to Alex Camara, Tigo’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the company was only rolling out its products on the market officially but there are many more activities that will be taking place in later dates.
Millicom paid some $67 million to secure a license as the 3rd national telecommunications operator in Rwanda after beating other seventeen telecoms giants, Camara says the company has invested close to $52m in a national network roll out covering at least 13 districts.
Tigo’s operations will be targeting about 2 million Rwandan potential subscribers out of the 10 million overall population.
Source African Press Agency
