Airtel Rwanda’s groundbreaking Voice Over 4G (VoLTE) service has achieved a significant milestone, attracting over one million new subscribers within a month of its launch. This innovative service enables users to make crystal-clear voice calls and send SMS messages over a 4G network, marking a new era in telecommunications in the country.
According to Airtel Rwanda, 30% of its existing 3G voice traffic has already transitioned to the VoLTE platform. This shift has redefined how Rwandans make calls, with a one-hour voice call now consuming just 15MB of data—comparable to downloading five photos in seconds—rather than incurring traditional per-minute charges.
Airtel Rwanda is the first telecom operator in the country to introduce this technology. The company’s data bundles, such as its offer of 1GB of daily data for Rwf3,000, now include unlimited voice calls, providing users with seamless connectivity without additional charges.
Emmanuel Hamez, Managing Director of Airtel Rwanda, highlighted the advantages of the service. “By integrating voice calls into data bundles, we’ve significantly reduced the cost of voice communication. Calls now account for only 1% of total data traffic, allowing customers to stay connected at no extra cost,” he explained.
This initiative aligns with the National Broadband Policy, which promotes modern telecommunications infrastructure and competition in the 4G network market. “Our goal is to transition entirely to 4G by phasing out 3G technology by the end of 2025 and 2G by 2026,” Hamez added.
Airtel Rwanda has also been instrumental in the Connect Rwanda 2.0 initiative, which aims to provide affordable smartphones to rural communities. As a result, smartphone ownership among Airtel customers has soared from 10% to 50% in just one year.
Hamez acknowledged ongoing challenges in internet quality in areas lacking fiber connectivity but emphasized the company’s commitment to improvement. “Our internet speeds now range from an average of 30mbps to 50mbps. We’ve modernized our network and enhanced capacity across both core infrastructure and radio frequencies,” he stated.
The introduction of VoLTE also enables Airtel Rwanda to reallocate 3G radio frequencies to 4G, further enhancing network quality and capacity.
This transformative step underscores Airtel Rwanda’s ambition to lead the country’s digital evolution, setting a high benchmark for innovation and connectivity in the region.