MTN Rwanda has partnered with data-driven platform Bboxx in a bid to increase smartphone access across Rwanda, accelerating the country’s digital agenda.
The companies aim to collaborate on making essential technology more accessible for all Rwandans helping to bridge the digital divide and provide internet access to previously unconnected communities.
MTN Rwanda has an existing partnership in place with the country’s government; the Connect Rwanda initiative is aimed at providing every household with access to a smartphone in a bid to tackle the country’s low penetration rate.
Despite network coverage of 99%, Rwanda’s current smartphone penetration stands at just 23.5% - a significant barrier to delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Bboxx and MTN Rwanda’s collaboration is aimed at boosting this rate via Bboxx Connect, a pay-as-you-go smartphone service.
Bboxx Connect gives customers a simpler, more accessible way to pay for their smartphones while providing a tool for financial education and helping them build credit worthiness. This will, in turn, strengthen the digital economy and fuel socio-economic development across the country.
To support the initiative, MTN Rwanda is providing SIM cards and offering a starter data pack that consists of 1GB per month for a period of three months to all customers who sign up for Bboxx Connect. The deal will also see Bboxx’s existing suite of IoT-enabled household appliances connected with telecommunications services provided by MTN Rwanda.
Mansoor Hamayun, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bboxx, said: "This partnership underscores our commitment to unlocking potential through technological innovation. With MTN Rwanda's extensive reach, we will scale our Bboxx Connect service to enhance affordability and accessibility of smartphones for customers across Rwanda.
MTN Rwanda CEO Mapula Bodibe added: “At MTN, we believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life and by partnering with Bboxx, we continue to make this vision a reality. This collaboration represents a significant step in bridging the digital divide by expanding access to affordable smartphones across the country.”