To accelerate the deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in the country, the Government of Rwanda and Korean Telecom (KT) Corporation have entered into a partnership agreement to establish their second Joint venture company, ‘Africa Olleh Services Ltd.
The Africa Olleh company was set up to develop and operate online services required to support Rwanda’s transition to knowledge-based economy.
The two parties signed a Closing Memorandum to their second Shareholders Agreement previously executed in September 2013. The agreement was signed by the CEO of Rwanda Development Board Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza and President, Global & Enterprise Group of KT Corporation, HJ Kim.
According to KT Corporation, both parties entered into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to deploy and operate a comprehensive high-speed broadband network and also spearhead the expansion of the nation’s online services capability.
While signing the final memorandum to meet their Shareholders agreement, which was accomplished in 2013, the telecoms operator disclosed that the first company ‘Olleh Rwanda Networks Ltd’ was launched in order to add 4G LTE to Rwanda’s comprehensive national fibre optic infrastructure and operate the combined infrastructure as a wholesale-only provider of high speed mobile broadband, covering 95 percent of the population by 2017.
“The second company (Africa Olleh Services) will expand the country’s cloud services capability, enabling business, government and individuals to conduct a full range of economic and social activities online. Africa Olleh Services will operate as a systems integrator and provider of information technology solutions to the broader market across the region,” the company adds.
Rugwabiza said “Olleh Rwanda Network is already operational, has already received shareholder funding and is on target to complete 4G LTE wireless broadband roll out as planned. Africa Olleh Services Ltd will launch its operations early March 2014.
It is expected to start the delivery of the first of many Government of Rwanda projects that it will be assigned in accordance with the shareholder’s agreement immediately,” she said.
She explained that the systems and infrastructure created by Africa Olleh Services will enable businesses and Government to reduce transaction costs and save time, adding thats online services will increase productivity and efficiency throughout the economy, and the company will provide many highly skilled jobs.
Kim said “the joint mission of the Government of Rwanda and KT Corporation is to use Africa Olleh Services as a strategic vehicle to develop a large pool of about 700 highly skilled professionals, to foster Rwanda’s development and facilitate KT’s entry into markets in sub-Saharan Africa.”
He noted that this would enable KT to make foray into the Sub- Saharan African markets, while adding that developing a broad base of ICT skills is in line with the Rwanda s goals as stated in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy Program ll.
