Rwanda: Law No. 24/2016 Governing Information and Communication Technologies including operational license requirement entered into force

On 27 June 2016, Law No. 24/2016 Governing Information and Communication Technologies entered into force after its publication in the official gazette. All licences require detailed applications to the Regulatory Authority, are issued within 3 months if requirements are met, and can be granted for up to 15 years based on economic resources, legal compliance, and security considerations. According to the law, there are three types of licences (general authorisation, standard, and individual) administered across four categories of operators. General authorisations cover basic network installation and equipment-related activities. Standard licences are for services using existing networks and radio frequencies, and individual licences are for specific regulated activities including public network provision. The four operator categories include network infrastructure licensees who provide core infrastructure, network service licensees who provide network services, application service licensees who provide specific function services without owning network equipment, and content service licensees who provide information services through communications networks.