First LTE in Africa
KT has built Africa’s first nationwide LTE network in Rwanda. The company announced the completion of the network at Transform Africa Summit 2018, which took place in the African country's capital city Kigali from May 7 to 10.
The largest ICT conference in Africa was attended by Rwandan Minister for Information Technology & Communications Jean de Dieu Rurangirwa, Angolan Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Maria Do Rosario Braganca Sambo, South Korean Ambassador to Rwanda Kim Eung-joong, etc.
KT launched commercial LTE services in Kigaliback in November 2014. After that, KT and the Rwandan government established a joint venture, KT Rwanda Networks, in 2013 for nationwide LTE network construction.
Rwanda has a population of approximately 12 million, including 8.6 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.15 million smartphone users. KT and the Rwandan government are anticipating that the network construction will set the stage for Industry 4.0 in the African country.
“The nationwide LTE network construction, which symbolizes close cooperation between the Rwandan government and KT, will lead to higher living standards and faster economic development,” said the Rwandan minister. KT is going to work for the same goal with Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, Benin, Senegal and so on based on its accomplishment in Rwanda.