On July 31, 2025, The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) has fined MTN Rwanda Rwf 30 million following major service disruptions that occurred on July 27 and 28, affecting voice calls, SMS, USSD services used for mobile money, and interconnectivity between telecom providers.
The penalty follows a summons issued earlier this week, during which MTN’s leadership was called to address what RURA described as “persistent and recurring issues in its service delivery.” The meeting, held on Monday, July 28, focused on the telco’s failure to maintain consistent service standards across its network.
In a follow-up statement on Thursday, July 31, RURA confirmed that MTN Rwanda had attended the meeting and provided explanations regarding the technical challenges. The regulator issued a formal warning and instructed the company to urgently resolve the issues.
According to Article 269 of the ICT Law, administrative fines for such disruptions range from Rwf 500,000 to Rwf 15,000,000 per day of non-compliance. Since the interruptions lasted two days, RURA imposed the maximum daily fine, totaling Rwf 30,000,000/
This is not the first time MTN Rwanda has faced regulatory action. Under Law N° 24/2016 of 18/06/2016, which governs Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Rwanda, RURA is mandated to oversee telecommunications, media, and postal services. The law provides a framework for ensuring compliance and promoting a competitive ICT sector.
RURA emphasised its continued commitment to enforcing service standards and protecting consumer interests in Rwanda’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.
