Tigo Rwanda commissions Internet Transit for KT Rwanda Networks

Tigo Rwanda is proud to announce the commissioning of a wholesale IP Transit service for KT Rwanda Networks. The wholesale IP Transit deal will allow internet international traffic from KT Rwanda Networks to transit via the Tigo Rwanda/Millicom fibre optic network into the Millicom POP (Point of Presence) in London, United Kingdom.  

Under this 10-year partnership with KT Rwanda Networks, Tigo Rwanda will provide STM-4 Bandwidth over a secured network with a bit rate of 622Mbit/s.  Previously, international Internet traffic from Rwanda relied on regional and international carriers such as BCS-Kenya, WIOCC, and SeaComm.

This is the first time in Rwanda that the transit of international internet traffic is commissioned by a local operator at such a large scale.

Philip Amoateng, Chief Executive Officer, Tigo Rwanda commented: “We are proud to be the first Rwandan telecom operator to provide IP transfer at such a large scale. Over the last year our parent company Millicom has made investments such as the acquisition of operator Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel) that positions us with the infrastructure and the needed access to sea-cable to provide such services. “

Han-Sung Yoon, Chief Executive Officer, KT Rwanda Networks said: “Tigo Rwanda and KT Rwanda Networks have enjoyed a strong partnership that resulted into an increased number of 4G users in Rwanda;  and the purchase of this capacity comes to elevate the 4G user experience. We thank Tigo Management and look forward to doing more together”.  

Philip Amoateng, Chief Executive Officer, Tigo Rwanda added: “What this means for our clients is that in addition to providing a competitive price, both technical and commercial support will be done locally by our experts.”

The IP Transit service for KT Rwanda Networks was made possible through Tigo Rwanda’s partnership with Zanzibar Telecom (Zantel). Zantel is a shareholder in three main sea-cable providers, namely TEAMS, WACCS, and EASSY.  Zantel interconnect also with SEACOM at their landing POP in Dar-Es-Salam.

The cables provide low latency connectivity to the internet. The large capacity provides the best environment for triple play applications namely voice, data and video streaming.

The protected IP transit capacity will be taken from Dar-es-Salaam; hence most of the contents will also be available at that point due to caching mechanism put in place at our POP in Dar-es-Salam.

This will reduce the latency drastically.

Submarine Cable routes available

South Route 1: Dar es Salaam- EASSy-Mtunzini-SA Terrestrial- WACS- London Telehouse West

South Route 2: Dar es Salaam- -EASSy-Djibouti-Egypt-Marseille - London Telehouse West

Tigo Business - A Solution for every Business

Through its B2B (Business to Business) unit, Tigo Rwanda has been providing business solutions to corporate, government, SMEs and NGOs clients for over 5 years. The large portfolio of corporate and enterprise solutions offered by Tigo Business comprises of the following:

•           Mobile telecommunications: [Postpaid data and voice, Prepaid voice (EASYBIZ), CUG (Closed user group) that allows employees to call within the company’s group free of charge.]

•           Fixed Voice solutions: ISDN/PRI/E1

•           Corporate Broadband data services (MPLS, IP-sec , VPN and Internet) 

•           Fibre to the building data connectivity.

•           Corporate mobile APN for interconnection with remote devices (such Banks’ POS)

•           Payment solutions: (ex: Bulk SMS)

•           Fleet Management system

About Tigo Rwanda

Currently, Tigo Rwanda has over three million customers and has invested over US $310 million from 2009 to date.   Tigo Rwanda provides 4G LTE on mobile for both prepaid and post-paid customers.  Tigo Rwanda was awarded as the ‘Most Innovative Service’ at Africa Com 2014, for international mobile money transfers with integrated currency conversion between Tigo Rwanda and Tigo Tanzania as well as awarded for “Best ICT Exhibitor” at the Kigali Expo 2015. This year Tigo Rwanda became the first telecom operator in Africa to sign the Connected Women Commitment Initiative.

Tigo Rwanda is owned by Millicom, a leading telecommunications and media company uniquely dedicated to emerging markets in Latin America and Africa. It provides mobile, mobile financial, cable and satellite services to over 60 million customers in fourteen countries, primarily under the Tigo brand. Tigo has been operating in Africa since 1993, in Rwanda since 2009, and serves over 26 million customers in Africa.

About KT Rwanda Networks

KT Rwanda Networks is the only 4G LTE infrastructure company in Rwanda, jointly invested by the Government of Rwanda and KT exclusively for wholesale provision of universal mobile broadband network in Rwanda using 4G LTE technology. The wholesale network service for mobile broadband will help to promote healthy competition for advanced retail services and solutions, and will benefit consumers, enterprises and the nation in transforming Rwanda into the ICT hub of East Africa.