Rwanda's RURA to probe MTN over network failures

Rwandan industry regulator, the Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), has announced plans to undertake a probe into persistent failures of the MTN-Rwanda network, with a view to minimising the cost to subscribers. RURA director general Regis Gatarayiha told the New Times that the move comes after complaints were received mobile phone users about the poor quality of services offered by telecom companies. The network breakdown is akin to that witnessed by MTN in 2007, when it enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the local telecom sector. The regulator fined MTN then over RWF 70 million for poor services dominated by network failures and dropped calls. Subscribers argue that MTN's mobile and internet services are choking communication, with slow internet, dropped calls and complete network failure on their handsets. Last month, Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi also voiced his concern, saying many people, including foreigners visiting the country, have complained about the network failures. MTN CEO Khaled Mikkawi has admitted faults in the company's network. According to telecom experts, poor quality service is perhaps a result of transmission problems, overload on the computer Central Processing Unit- CPU as a result of many people subscribing for the network or the telecoms poor planning and, too little swap over link between switches among other issues. Nevertheless, Gatariya noted that despite promises from the telecommunications company migrating to 3G, it is still not providing the service they earlier promised.