Rwanda is hosting the African Peering and Interconnection Forum (AfPIF) 2026 in Kigali from August 18–20, bringing together internet service providers, network operators, carriers, internet exchanges, data-centre operators, technology companies and policymakers from across Africa and beyond.
The forum comes as Rwanda continues to strengthen its position as a regional technology and connectivity hub. AfPIF focuses on improving how African networks connect with one another, helping reduce dependence on international routes while improving the speed, resilience and affordability of internet services.
Expanding fibre and satellite connectivity
A major participant this year is Paratus Rwanda, which hosted the official opening reception. The event also coincides with the company’s first anniversary of operations in Rwanda. Paratus says it has expanded its Rwandan offering beyond Starlink business services to include IP transit, wholesale internet and regional fibre connectivity.
One of the company’s key assets is its G2M fibre route, connecting Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo with Mombasa in Kenya through Kigali, Kampala and Nairobi. The roughly 2,000-kilometre route is designed to provide carriers, internet providers and businesses with resilient cross-border connectivity and access to international subsea cable capacity through Mombasa.
Paratus is also showcasing Starlink-powered connectivity at the forum. Its services include Starlink for Business as well as solutions intended to provide primary, backup and remote connectivity. This combination of satellite and terrestrial networks could be particularly useful for organisations operating in areas where conventional fibre infrastructure is limited.
Through its point of presence in Kigali, Paratus Rwanda says it can connect businesses and network operators to the wider Paratus network, which spans several African countries. Together with operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the Rwandan operation forms part of the company’s broader East African connectivity strategy.
For Rwanda, the significance of AfPIF goes beyond a three-day technology conference. The gathering gives the country an opportunity to attract partnerships, strengthen regional internet infrastructure and demonstrate Kigali’s role in Africa’s digital economy. As more businesses, government services and consumers depend on reliable internet access, investments combining fibre, satellite connectivity and regional networks could become increasingly important to Rwanda’s digital transformation.
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