The "Father of African Telecom" Dies

Miko Alexis Rwayitare, often known as the "father" of African telecoms died last week, in Belgium following complications after routine surgery in a Brussels hospital. Miko is known as the father of telecommunications having been credited with making the first mobile call in Africa in 1987 and subsequently building various successful mobile networks.

In a joint statement, Telecel International, Mikcor Investment Holdings and the Rwayitare family said that "Africa has been left poorer by the untimely loss of a great entrepreneur, husband, father and friend."

Miko is survived by his wife Consolatta and seven children, and will be buried in his adoptive country, South Africa later this week.

Born in Rwanda, Mr. Rwayitare, 65 made his fortune in oil, communication, broadband firms and real estate - but was best known for founding the mobile phone company, Telecel at a time when most pundits thought there was no commercial viability for mobile communications in developing countries. The company now operates in 14 countries. His first network was set up in Zaire in 1986. He later sold the company to Egypt's Orascom for US$413 million.

Posted to the site on 30th September 2007