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Rwanda signs deal with global firm Inmarsat to deploy tech infrastructure  

Xinhua, May 11, 2017 Adjust font size:

Rwanda and Inmarsat, a global mobile satellite communications firm Thursday signed an agreement to facilitate launch of a series of digital services across Kigali.

The deal would see Inmarsat deploy Low Power Wide Area Network infrastructure around the city of Kigali in part to support the Rwandan capital's flagship smart city project.

The network, which will be active for an initial period of a year from May 1, 2017 will be the connectivity platform for a variety of Internet of Things (IoT) applications, and will provide a blueprint for smart city projects throughout Africa, according to officials.

The deployment coincided with the Transform Africa Summit set to close Friday, in Kigali, a forum that drew African Presidents, other dignitaries, and leading technology innovators, to discuss plans for building a smarter Africa.

Paul Gudonis, president of Inmarsat Enterprise, explained on the significance of the smart city initiative.

"Whilst many commentators have enthused about the possibilities of the IoT for the urban environment, from increasing utility usage efficiency to enabling a smooth network of autonomous cars, the reality is that it is still relatively untested and in its infancy. Kigali is taking the lead with its smart city project, creating an IoT ecosystem where both private and government organizations can experiment with this technology in a vibrant and lively city," he said.

"The project will therefore begin to take the potential of this exciting technology beyond futurist visions and into a real-world scenario and we look forward to seeing the creativity of Kigali's many entrepreneurs, students, and businesses unleashed on the IoT network." he said.

Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Rwanda's Minister of Youth and ICT said this would bring efficiencies and effectiveness for municipal authorities.

As part of the Transform Africa Summit, the Kigali smart city project is intended to shine a light on the possibilities offered by technology on the continent.

Hamadoun Toure, Executive Director at Smart Africa, the summit's organizer, said they were pleased with partnership with Inmarsat.

"Africa's single digital market can be a reality with such partner. The time is right. Africa is on the rise. African ingenuity has sometimes been restricted by the infrastructure available to us in the past, but now new possibilities are opening up as technology transforms how our cities operate.

"The Kigali project will expose a new generation of students, business leaders, and technologists to the potential of the IoT, and will create demand for innovative solutions to common urban issues in countries and cities all over Africa. Inmarsat and Actility have built the gateway to a smarter future for our cities." Toure said.

Meanwhile Smart Africa Alliance also entered into an agreement with Microsoft to facilitate cooperation.

Sebuh Hellulah, the General Manager of Microsoft for Eastern and Southern Africa said that they looked forward to playing a huge role in supporting the organization's technology initiatives.

He said Microsoft support would be in form of technology to enable governments become more digital. Endit