Rwanda now has 38% of its population online as of mid-2025, matching Africa’s average internet penetration rate, according to new data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The figure, up from 34% in 2024, is a symbolic benchmark for a country aiming for universal internet access by 2030.
With 5.5 million active internet users out of an estimated population of 14.4 million, Rwanda is betting on digital inclusion. The country’s Vision 2050 agenda and, more recently, the ICT Sector Strategic Plan (2024–2029) envisage a future where citizens, businesses, and government systems are fully integrated into a digital economy.
But the road ahead remains steep. Despite solid infrastructure growth and a surge in mobile access, millions are still locked out, not because the network is missing, but because they simply cannot afford to connect.
In June 2025, MTN Rwanda launched 5G services, adding another layer to the country’s expanding digital infrastructure. The ultra-fast, low-latency network is expected to power everything from smart city projects to improved healthcare delivery. Rwanda now has 1,760 connectivity towers covering 96% of inhabited areas, with 840 more planned by 2028.
Yet infrastructure alone has not been enough to close the gap. “Our internet penetration infrastructure has grown to 62%,” said Esther Kunda, Director General of Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, in an interview with New Times Rwanda on June 9. “But infrastructure alone isn’t inclusion. Access and affordability, especially in rural communities, remain our primary challenges.”
Her point is underscored by stark usage disparities. In urban areas, internet usage stands at 57%, but in rural areas, it drops to just 19%, according to the Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7). Conducted by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, the survey tracks key development indicators such as poverty levels, access to public services, and digital adoption across the country.
Only 20% of Rwandans currently use mobile internet, and just 34% of households own a smartphone. In 2025, the typical smartphone in Rwanda costs $160, a price that remains out of reach for many, particularly in rural communities. Though data prices are amongst the lowest on the continent, $0.81 per GB on MTN and $0.41 on Airtel, for low-income households, even that is steep. For the poorest of Rwandans, buying a basic smartphone and 1GB of data can consume up to 60% of their monthly income.
“People in Rwanda still find it difficult to buy essential items, and you’re talking about data?” said Magnus Mazimpaka, a Kigali-based investigative journalist. “Essential household items are more important than smartphones or data. People would rather use money to feed themselves than buy a phone.”
Recent tax policy shifts could deepen the challenge. A GSMA report warns that increasing excise duties from 10% to 12.5%, alongside the reintroduction of an 18% VAT on imported handsets, will likely raise device costs, hurting rural and low-income users the most.
Still, efforts to bridge the gap are ongoing. The government’s Connect Rwanda initiative, launched in partnership with MTN, is expanding access to smartphones through donations and flexible payment plans. Meanwhile, over 2,000 digital ambassadors are working across Rwanda’s 30 districts to teach citizens how to navigate digital tools, with 855 more expected to be deployed by early 2025.
These efforts are paying off. Digital literacy has risen sharply, now at 75%—far above the previous 60% target set for 2024. That means more Rwandans are ready and willing to use digital tools, if they can afford the devices and data to do so.
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