Rwandan Senate Approves $60 Million Communication Project

APA-Kigali (Rwanda) The Rwanda senate on Thursday evening approved a $60 million regional communication infrastructure project.

The project is funded by the International Development Association (IDA) to the tune of $24 million with supplementary funds from the Rwanda government totaling $36 million.

The project involves the extension of the broadband submarine cable from Mombasa, Kenya, to all districts in Rwanda.

Energy Minister Albert Butare told the senate that the government had earmarked the money to have the fiber optic submarine cable extended to all government institutions like hospitals and schools.

He said the connectivity would help the private institutions to access communication lines with ease.

Butare told the senators that currently Rwanda's telecommunication is through satellite which he said is expensive and limited.

The optic fiber cable will give Rwanda access to international gateway, he said.

The financing agreement for the project was signed in October last year between the government and IDA.

Posted to the site on 9th January 2009