World Bank releases funds for ICT infrastructure development

22.05.2009
Under the Regional Communication Infrastructure Program aimed at improving telecommunications and increasing the deployment of e-governance services in Africa, the World Bank has released US$24 million to Rwanda.

Rwanda's government will use the money to establish the country's national capacity to provide broadband connectivity and access to low-cost international bandwidth.

The money will help boost the country's ambition to become a regional ICT hub, according to Romain Murenzi, Rwanda's minister for science, technology, scientific research and ICT.

The $24 million is part of $424 million from the bank aimed at helping the region improve its dilapidated communication infrastructure.

The World Bank announced the program to fund ICT African infrastructure development in 2007. The program was created after calls by various governments in the region requesting funding from the bank for telecom infrastructure.

The bank wants the Rwandan government to use the money to develop national capacity to provide broadband connectivity to more than 700 Rwandan institutions including schools, health centers and local government administrative centers.