Rwanda: Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority issued ruling against MTN over its alleged non-compliance with Directives issued on the prohibition to join the Information Technology Hub in Uganda

On 12 May 2017, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) issued a ruling in its investigation against MTN Rwanda Ltd for alleged non-compliance with RURA's directives regarding the prohibition of joining the regional Information Technology (IT) shared services initiative, specifically the MTN IT Hub in Uganda. RURA imposed an administrative fine of FRW 5 million per day from 26 October 2014 to 27 June 2016, and FRW 15 million per day from 28 June 2016 to 20 March 2017, resulting in a total fine of FRW 7.03 billion. The decision was based on Law No. 09/2013 establishing RURA, Law No. 24/2016 governing Information and Communication Technologies, and Regulations No. 001/R/TD-ICS/RURA/016 governing Telecom Network Security in Rwanda. MTN Rwanda was found to have fully operationalised its IT services under the MTN Hub in Uganda despite RURA's directives issued in 2011.MTN Rwanda was hosting its IT services outside the country in violation of RURA's directives.