Comium to bring WiMAX to Rwanda

Comium Data, the Internet arm of Middle East and Africa telecoms provider Comium Group Holding, has secured a broadband wireless Internet licence in Rwanda, giving it a foothold to bring WiMAX to the east African country.

The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) awarded the licence, bringing Comium Data’s wireless Internet and data licences to 11. The provider’s footprint extends across East and West Africa, as well as Lebanon, where the company’s operations are headquartered.

The company’s vision is to be the leading operator in Africa in the provision of broadband wireless Internet using the WiMAX standard. Other countries where it has licences include Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Burundi.

“Rwanda is a market with remarkable growth potential and we believe that Comium Data will be able to offer services that truly enrich people’s lives as well as making major economic contribution to the country through enabling better and more sophisticated communications,” stated Tony Ghattas, chief operational officer of Comium Data.

As part of the Rwandan government’s 2020 vision, the ICT sector is being given prime importance as the country pursues socio-economic development. It is estimated that Rwanda’s ICT sector surpassed the US$50 million mark last year.

Regionally, Comium Group Holding operates mobile and fixed networks in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The group offers a diverse portfolio of telecoms and Internet services across 17 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.