The internet penetration rate, at 9 percent in the country is still low, meaning that few Rwandan citizens access broadband services.
Speaking at the Internet Governance Forum yesterday, Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister of Youth and ICT said that the government was doing all it takes to ensure that every Rwandan gets access to affordable and quality internet.
As the third phase of the National Information Communication Technology Plan (NIC III) is being rolled out, government set its focus on enabling citizens to use available infrastructure to access government services. The New Times' Frank Kanyesigye, last week, caught up with the Youthful Minister, who talked about the targets, achievements and challenges his ministry faces.
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Darla Rudakubana, the ministry’s communications specialist commented that the cost of the entire project amounted to $164,000.
She further explained that the scheme would seek to distribute handsets at sector level and smart phones at district level and this action will lead to better reporting and response from the authorities.
"In fact we want people to realise that ICT is not for elites, it's not something made for the rich and the city dwellers, it's something that is targeting that same Rwandan who benefited from gir'inka, Bye Bye Nyakatsi, VUP Umurenge, among others," he emphasised.
He stressed that all Rwandans should benefit from the ICT programmes that the country is running.
Read more: RW: ICT Is Not a Preserve of Elites-Minister Nsengimana
He added that the government was also hoping to get people to access ICT infrastructure in the country.
“The local government intends to put more efforts in service delivery to local communities as new technologies spread across the country,” he said.