Editing Telecommunications in Rwanda (section)

==Internet==

* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.rw]]<ref name=CIAWFB-Rwanda-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 
** 2.65 million, 107th in the world; 21.77% of the population (2018)<ref name="CIAWFB-Rwanda-2014" />
** 450,000 users (2009), 118th in the world;<ref name=CIAWFB-Rwanda-2014/> 
** 25,000 users (2002).
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 7,501 subscriptions, 175th in the world; less than 1% of population (2018)<ref name="CIAWFB-Rwanda-2014" />
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: 379,331 subscriptions, 99th in the world; 3.2% of the population, 119th in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>{{update after|2014|2|6}}
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 1,447 hosts, 168th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Rwanda-2014/>{{update after|2014|2|6}}
* [[List of countries by IPv4 address allocation|IPv4]]: 195,840 addresses allocated, 117th in the world, less than 0.05% of the world total, 16.8 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>{{update after|2014|2|6}}
* [[Internet Service Provider]]s: 4 ISPs (2005).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rinex.org.rw/members/ |title= Members - Rwanda Internet Exchange Point|website=www.rinex.org.rw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927212245/http://www.rinex.org.rw/members/ |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref>{{update after|2014|2|6}}

Rwanda ranked in first place in Africa for broadband download speeds and 62nd globally with a speed of 7.88&nbsp;Mbit/s in February 2013.<ref name=FOTN-Rwanda-2013/>

The Internet has been available from mobile cellular phones since 2007, but the high cost of phones and limited bandwidth restrained its popularity for several years. With completion of the government-sponsored fiber-optic cable expansion project in 2011, telecommunication services throughout the country have improved and the amount of mobile cellular Internet access and use has increased.<ref name=FOTN-Rwanda-2013/>

In 2009, RURA set up the Rwanda Internet Exchange (RINEX) to connect ISPs and enable the routing of local Internet traffic through a central exchange point without having to pass through international networks. ISPs can also opt to connect via RINEX to the international Internet. As of the end of 2013, only five ISPs exchange Internet traffic via RINEX, and the price for national access remained the same as for international access.<ref name=FOTN-Rwanda-2013/>

Internet access is limited mostly to Kigali, the capital city, and remains beyond the economic capacity of most citizens, particularly those in rural areas who are limited by low disposable incomes and a low level of [[digital literacy]]. More than 90% of the population lives in rural areas, with most engaged in subsistence agriculture. Between 70% and 90% of the population speaks only [[Kinyarwanda]], making Internet content in English unavailable to the majority of Rwandans.<ref name=FOTN-Rwanda-2013/> In 2015, the Internet penetration rate was about 25% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.internetworldstats.com/af/rw.htm|title=Rwanda Internet Usage and Telecommunications Reports|website=www.internetworldstats.com}}</ref>

=== Digital Progress ===
The 2021 [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]] report highlights Rwanda's advancements in incorporating technology in education, specifically aiding students with disabilities. Smart [[e-learning]] technology, including smart boards and internet access, has been introduced to support students with visual and hearing impairments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNDP Rwanda Annual Report 2021 |url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/rw/RW_UNDP-Rwanda-Annual-Report-2021.pdf |website=United Nations Development Programme}}</ref>

===Internet censorship and surveillance===
{{See also|Human rights in Rwanda}}

Rwanda was rated "partly free" in ''Freedom on the Net 2013'' by [[Freedom House]] with a score of 48, somewhat past the midway point between the end of the range for "free" (30) and the start of the range for "not free" (60).<ref name=FOTN-Rwanda-2013>[http://www.freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/resources/FOTN%202013_Rwanda.pdf "Country Report: Rwanda"], ''Freedom on the Net 2013'', Freedom House, 30 September 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2014.</ref>

The law does not provide for government restrictions on access to the Internet, but there are reports that the government blocks access to Web sites within the country that are critical of the government.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Rwanda-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204156 "Rwanda"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 2 April 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2014.</ref>

In 2012 and 2013, some independent online news outlets and opposition blogs were intermittently inaccessible. It is uncertain whether the disruptions are due to government blocking, as was the case in past years, or to technical issues. Some opposition sites continue to be blocked on some ISPs in early 2013, including Umusingi and Inyenyeri News, which were first blocked in 2011. [[Social-networking]] sites such as [[YouTube]], [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]], and international [[blog hosting service]]s are freely available.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Rwanda-2012/>

The websites of international human rights organizations such as [[Freedom House]], [[Amnesty International]], and [[Human Rights Watch]], as well as the online versions of media outlets such as the [[BBC]], [[Le Monde]], [[Radio France Internationale]], ''[[The New York Times]]'', and many others are freely accessible. Websites of national news outlets are also easily accessible. These include the web versions of state-run media and pro-government outlets as well as independent outlets such as The Rwanda Focus, Rushyashya, The Chronicles, Umusanzu, and Rwanda Dispatch.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Rwanda-2012/>

The constitution provides for [[freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of the press|press]] "in conditions prescribed by the law." The government at times restricts these rights. The government intimidates and arrests journalists who express views that are deemed critical on sensitive topics. Laws prohibit promoting divisionism, genocide ideology, and genocide denial, "spreading rumors aimed at inciting the population to rise against the regime", expressing contempt for the Head of State, other high-level public officials, administrative authorities or other public servants, and slander of foreign and international officials and dignitaries. These acts or expression of these viewpoints sometimes results in arrest, harassment, or intimidation. Numerous journalists practice [[self-censorship]].<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Rwanda-2012/>

In June 2011 a court convicted journalist Jean Bosco Gasasira in absentia of displaying contempt for the head of state and incitement to civil disobedience for his writings in the online publication Umuvugizi and sentenced him to two and a half years in prison.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Rwanda-2012/>

The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence; however, there are numerous reports the government monitors homes, telephone calls, [[e-mail]], Internet [[chat rooms]], other private communications, movements, and personal and institutional data. In some cases monitoring has led to detention and interrogation by State security forces (SSF).<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Rwanda-2012/>