Rwanda's MTN branch reports strong first-half financial performance and spearheads the debut of 5G network in the nation.
MTN Rwanda is driving digital growth and network expansion in the country, with a strong emphasis on 5G technology. The telecommunications giant made history in June 2025 by launching Rwanda's first-ever commercial 5G network, boasting over 130 live sites across Kigali. This significant milestone marks a crucial step in Rwanda's digital evolution and positions MTN Rwanda as a key enabler of the country's Vision 2050 and national technology strategies.
The company's 5G rollout aims to unlock innovation, improve public and private sector service delivery, and support inclusive economic participation in both urban and rural areas. Beyond 5G, MTN Rwanda is also accelerating the transition from 3G/4G networks, investing in future-ready digital infrastructure, and focusing on customer-centric innovative solutions to enhance digital inclusion and socio-economic development.
Looking ahead, MTN Rwanda plans to expand its 5G coverage beyond Kigali to other cities and industrial zones, in line with Rwanda’s broader digital infrastructure goals. This expansion is part of a wider national effort that includes adding new telecom towers and upgrading fiber-optic networks to boost broadband capacity and accessibility. The company is also managing costs and capital investment carefully to sustain profitability amid competition.
In the first half of 2025, MTN Rwanda's financial performance has been robust. The company's EBITDA increased to RWF 96.1 billion, while overall service revenue rose by 10.1% to RWF 23.3 billion. Data revenue saw a significant increase of 19.3% to RWF 13.7 billion, and Mobile Money (MoMo) revenue for MoMo Rwanda Ltd (MoMo Rwanda) grew by 29.1% to RWF 68.3 billion. The number of active MoMo users for MTN Rwanda grew by 9.1% to 3.4 million, and the total subscriptions increased by 2.9% to 7.8 million.
MTN Rwanda's strong financial performance reflects its commitment to disciplined execution, customer-led innovation, and long-term value creation. The company has also made significant strides in digital inclusion, with over 300 people gaining digital skills through MTN Rwanda's initiatives during the first half of 2025.
Moreover, MTN Rwanda has partnered with a local company to construct a community clinic, providing healthcare services to over 300 people. The company has also equipped 100 community health workers with smartphones, aiming to improve healthcare delivery in rural areas.
MTN Rwanda's profit after tax reached RWF 6.3 billion during the first half of 2025, and the EBITDA margin improved by 5.1 percentage points. Transaction volumes for MoMo Rwanda reached 1.4 billion, and the total transaction value was RWF 21.9 billion. The number of active MoMo merchants for MoMo Rwanda increased by 29.7% year-on-year to 39,267.
In summary, MTN Rwanda's current developments include the launch and commercial deployment of 5G in Kigali (over 130 sites) as of mid-2025, plans to accelerate 5G expansion to other urban centers and industrial areas, continued investment in upgrading fiber-optic infrastructure and network capacity, a focus on digital solutions that empower businesses, support innovation, and expand digital inclusion, and maintaining disciplined cost controls to sustain financial performance while scaling digital services.
MTN Rwanda is the first operator to commercially launch 5G in Rwanda, aiming to unlock a world of innovation with its investment in future-ready infrastructure and high-performance digital platforms.
- In addition to its 5G rollout, MTN Rwanda is also investing in future-ready digital infrastructure and focusing on customer-centric innovative solutions to enhance digital inclusion and socio-economic development.
- Beyond Kigali, MTN Rwanda plans to expand its 5G coverage to other cities and industrial zones, aligning with Rwanda’s broader digital infrastructure goals.
- As a part of its commitment to digital inclusion, MTN Rwanda has partnered with a local company to construct a community clinic, providing healthcare services to over 300 people.
