MWC 2025 Opens in Kigali: Kagame Makes Case On Leveraging Technology to Connect Africa
The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Africa 2025 opened in Kigali, bringing together influential leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across the continent to share their vision for a digitally connected Africa. The event aims to showcase how mobile technology is driving inclusion, innovation, and economic transformation across industries and societies.
President Paul Kagame, who officially opened the sessions, cited Rwanda’s own journey as proof of how technology can be a catalyst for national transformation. He said the country’s belief in the power of technology has been central to its drive toward a middle-income economy.
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Vivek Badrinath, Director General of GSMA, commended Rwanda for emerging as a true technology leader in Africa, embracing digital transformation to improve lives and public services.
He attributed this progress to visionary leadership, supportive policies, and the mobile sector’s role as a catalyst for change, expanding access to education, health, financial services, and business opportunities.
Badrinath noted that Rwanda now enjoys 99% mobile coverage and 13 million connections, though efforts to expand mobile internet access continue.
“Rwanda reminds us that progress is not an aspiration—it is a deliberate choice,” Badrinath said. “Through sustained investment in technology and innovation, it has shown what determined leadership can achieve.”
According to the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Rwanda had about 500,000 4G users in 2023, but through policy reforms and competition to extend coverage, that number has grown tenfold to 5 million users by June 2025.
The country has also launched 5G services to enhance access to education and healthcare, connecting nearly 1,000 health facilities and 4,000 schools, while training over 4.5 million citizens in digital literacy.
ICT Minister Paula Ingabire said Rwanda’s vision is to make Africa a market for innovation and digital product leadership.
“Our commitment to the future is simple—to build a mobile-driven future defined by collaboration, scalable solutions, and African innovation,” she said.
