Seacom Reaches Into Rwanda

FLOREAL, Mauritius -- SEACOM, Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL) and Rwandatel S.A. (RTL) today announced a major partnership that further extends the reach of international broadband capacity across eastern Africa. Through concurrent deals, UTL and RTL, both subsidiaries of the Libyan Africa Portfolio LAP Green Networks, have purchased a significant amount of international broadband capacity from SEACOM whilst SEACOM has in turn secured a backhaul solution for Rwanda on the two regional players’ terrestrial networks between Kampala, Uganda and Kigali, Rwanda. Under the terms of the partnership agreement, both entities will have immediate access to the SEACOM network.

Whilst Uganda has been connected to the SEACOM network since its commercial launch on 23 July 2009, this agreement means that Rwanda will benefit from the newly available broadband capacity as soon as September 2009. This development is in line with SEACOM’s objective to provide connectivity solutions to landlocked countries across the east and southern African region.

Commenting on the partnership, Brian Herlihy, SEACOM CEO, said:"From the outset of this project, we realised the importance of connecting inland countries to our international network and today’s agreement is testimony of our commitment in that regard.

Many countries set out to deploy massive terrestrial networks in anticipation of the arrival of real and affordable international bandwidth connectivity. With more and more countries getting connected to the rest of the world via our system, we are eagerly awaiting to see the direct socio-economic benefits this will have on the entire region. "

SEACOM has realised the importance of ensuring that Kigali and the greater Rwanda were connected as soon as possible to the international global network. Seacom’s purchase of the UTL and RTL’s backhaul solution guarantees that Rwanda will be connected immediately.

Seacom Ltd.

Uganda Telecom