Rwanda in partnership with Japan & other partners, launched its first satelite that will provide free internet to schools in remote areas.

Billionare Richard Branson of Virgin Group, top managers of Soft Bank of Japan, Airbus leaders, and other several dignitaries, including French ministers were in presence to witness the launch of OneWeb’s initial satellites.

Groupe Scolaire St Pierre Nkombo, located on Nkombo Island in the middle of Lake Kivu, will be the first beneficiary of the broadband connectivity that one of the satellites, nicknamed Icyerekezo, will provide.

Like many other schools in rural areas where it’s hard to extend standard network fibre, students at St. Pierre Nkombo previously had no to access to internet, making it impossible for them to fully utilise the available ICT tools that the government rolled out to facilitate learning.

The ministry had first publicly announced the launch of the satellite on Tuesday, saying it will not only connect rural schools but also enable other services to underserved communities.

Rwanda plans the launch of other satellite into the orbit before the end of this year in partnership with the Japanese government

The Ministry of ICT and Innovation estimats that it would take about USD2 billion to extend traditional fibre network to Nkombo.

With the help of the satellite, they say, the cost of internet connectivity will significantly be brought down.

The ministry did not however mention the commercial details of the partnership.

Groupe Scolaire St Pierre Nkombo, located on Nkombo Island in the middle of Lake Kivu, will be the first beneficiary of the broadband connectivity that one of the satellites, nicknamed Icyerekezo, will provide.

Like many other schools in rural areas where it’s hard to extend standard network fibre, students at St. Pierre Nkombo previously had no to access to internet, making it impossible for them to fully utilise the available ICT tools that the government rolled out to facilitate learning.