MTN Rwanda is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its network as it expands capacity, builds localised enhancement tools and implements a location-by-location roll-out of 5G in response to rising demand for data.
The integration of AI-based engines into MTN Rwanda's mobile network has improved service availability, optimised performance and assisted with speedy fault detection, said Ali Monzer, CEO of MTN Rwanda, in an exclusive interview this week.
AI tools are helping speed up detection of network transmission faults and identify their origins, such as site outages and fibre cuts.
"The way we are implementing these AI tools is such that we are able to spot network outages and degradation early enough so that field teams can respond quickly and more proactively. This gives us an edge through proactive, preventive maintenance for the network," Monzer said.
AI is also proving useful for MTN Rwanda in customer management and in improving efficiencies for its contact centre.
Monzer said MTN Rwanda's AI strategy is built on three pillars: applying and integrating AI tools within the network, expanding its data centre, and developing Africa-centric AI platforms such as Ms Baza, the company's AI-powered virtual assistant, first unveiled as a prototype at Mobile World Congress Kigali in October 2025.
MTN Rwanda is working to expand its data centre and add computing capacity. "We are not yet there, to be honest with you, but the longer-term vision is to host AI workloads locally in the future," Monzer said.
MTN Rwanda became the first operator in the country to commercially launch 5G, in Kigali in June 2025, a milestone Monzer described at the time as "a transformative step in aligning with Rwanda's Vision 2050."
ITWeb Africa reported that coverage subsequently expanded across Kigali's Gasabo, Nyarugenge, Kicukiro and Kamonyi districts, and the operator's first-half results this year showed EBITDA up 43.7% to $44.3 million, which Monzer attributed to disciplined execution, cost efficiencies and investment in next-generation infrastructure.
In the past few weeks, the company has extended its 5G coverage further, to Musanze, a district about 92 kilometres northwest of Kigali.
Monzer said MTN Rwanda's 5G rollout is being implemented through a careful, strategic approach focused on key locations rather than blanket coverage.
He said the company believes that "supply drives demand" when it comes to 5G, and is also working to boost access to 5G devices in the country to drive uptake.
"The number of 5G-capable consumer devices was very small last year, but has since tripled, and as we launched 5G, mobile gadget manufacturers pushed more 5G handsets into the market," he said. "The supply created the demand, and this has been somehow successful so far."
Beyond its high speeds, 5G connectivity is also helping to reduce latency for Rwandan internet users in Kigali and Musanze. Monzer said the real value of 5G for Rwandans lies in its capacity to enable "new digital use cases" by reducing latency for applications such as remote operations and real-time industrial systems.
He described 5G as "very important" to Rwanda's wider digital ambitions.
Over the half-year to the end of June, MTN Rwanda grew its total subscriber base by 11.4% to 8.7 million. Active data subscribers grew 14.5% to 2.7 million, which the company said demonstrated "sustained demand for MTN's services" in the country.
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