Exclusive Interview: Paradigm Tower Ventures Aims to Bridge Rwanda’s Digital Divide with Sustainable Infrastructure

Paradigm Tower Ventures, led by co-founder and chairman Stephen Harris, is charting a transformative course to enhance digital connectivity and foster inclusivity across Rwanda, with a particular focus on underserved rural areas. Leveraging over a decade of local expertise, cutting-edge renewable energy solutions, and strategic partnerships with government and international investors, Paradigm aims to build sustainable, cost-effective telecommunications infrastructure. This initiative aligns closely with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the country’s broader digital transformation goals, promising to bridge the digital divide and create a more connected future for all Rwandans.

1. How does Paradigm Tower Ventures plan to leverage its infrastructure expertise to enhance digital connectivity and inclusivity in Rwanda, particularly in underserved rural areas?

Paradigm’s team has extensive experience operating in Africa and understands the challenges in serving rural and underserved areas. Paradigm has been an early advocate of moving away from diesel due to the associated environmental, logistical and cost challenges. Development in battery and solar technology provides us with an ideal alternative to diesel generators. Paradigm works extensively with its technology partners to leverage advances in power solutions, be that new battery advances or deployment and operation of solar solutions, where we know power is the major challenge in delivering solutions. Also the business in Rwanda has been operating for over 10 years and has a nationwide team of engineers experienced in deployment and operation of the latest digital infrastructure, supported by a 24 by 7 world class Network Operations Centre. Providing a platform for Paradigm to leverage its experience and expertise.  As a general observation, over recent years the cost and performance of new generation battery technology has improved, as has that solar of solar technologies.  Combined with more efficient site design and operational management using remote monitoring and operation systems, we are able to connect more remote and less populated areas more economically.  In addition we are committed to working closely with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, the Regulator and the Mobile Operators to establish the most sustainable and economic way to extend coverage to remote areas to bridge the digital divide.   Our business plan includes provision for 250 sites along with extensive capital to be deployed in enhancing and improving the existing sites we have acquired.   We also have provision to construct further sites if the demand exists and commercially this makes sense.

2. What are the key challenges faced in expanding telecommunications infrastructure in Rwanda, and how does Paradigm intend to address issues like cost, environmental impact, and regulatory hurdles?

The biggest challenge generally in expanding networks is the availability of power. Obvious solution is the deployment of Diesel Generators, but these are expensive to run and have a negative environmental impact.  They are also costly having the need for regular maintenance and the challenges of refueling. Paradigm through its business in Tanzania, Minara Towers, has developed a green site solution for rural locations that includes the deployment of Solar and Hybrid batteries. This solution provides a reliable and high level of service, and availability of power to the remote sites. Also working with the Regulator and where applicable the Universal Service fund, and of course the Operators, we work on prioritizing deployments that work best for all parties. What we have found in our early discussions with RURA that they are extremely focused in developing ways to enable connectivity to be bought to areas which are currently not served.  We look forward to collaborating with them on these solutions and playing our part in helping facilitate the improvement in mobile network coverage. 

We also work very closely with our supply chain to make sure that we get best value and best-in-class products, while focusing on cost and quality.

Paradigm and its investment partners are fully engaged in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and will only provide solutions that align with our green agenda.  

3. Could you share insights on how this investment aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the country’s broader digital transformation goals?

A key path to achieving the Rwandan Government Vision 2050 is through developing Rwanda’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, which in turn will have a multiplier effect on other sectors and take the country to the next level of efficiency and productivity.

 In addition to our initial investment in acquiring the business from IHS, we will be allocating a minimum of $30 million further capital to drive network expansion, as well as supporting the Regulator and the Governments vision for 2050. With one of the visions pillars being Modernized Infrastructure, we see ourselves playing a fundamental role in supporting this pillar and transforming our infrastructure to being world class. We see ourselves as a key enabler in ensuring adequate access to ICT services is available across Rwanda and are geared up to make the necessary investments in network upgradation.

4. As Paradigm develops new carrier-neutral towers and expands into other African markets, what strategies will be employed to ensure sustainable, scalable, and environmentally friendly infrastructure growth?

The key element of our strategy is to work with Government, Regulators, mobile operators and technology partners to make sure that all deployments meet the strategic demands of all parties. Our operating model includes ensuring that adequate ESG policies are heavily linked to providing greener environmentally friendly services – this would mean deploying solar power solutions and battery backup systems as an alternative to diesel generators wherever possible. We also work closely with our technology partners to develop power and infrastructure solutions that meet todays and tomorrow’s demands for sustainable low-cost solutions, that allow mobile operators to expand to underserved areas cost effectively. 

Our investors are committed to support the funding needed to expand our footprint not only in Rwanda but in other African Countries where we believe we can make a real difference.

5. How do partnerships with local government and international investors influence Paradigm’s approach to digital infrastructure development, and what role will they play in closing Rwanda’s current connectivity gap?

One of our primary objectives is to have a strong and collaborative relationship with all our partners. Regulator and Government support is fundamental to our business plan, and we make sure that all parties are aligned to deliver what is required to meet the vision. We intend to establish regular dialogue with the Government and regulator, an understand their priorities towards ensuring digital connectivity across Rwanda.

We choose our investment partners carefully to make sure that we have agreement in terms of thinking and strategy. Our investment partners are a mix of specialist digital infrastructure focused investors like Convergence Partners and Development Finance Institutions such as include British International Investment and Proparco. Our investment partners are heavily focused on closing the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa, and have given us a clear mandate to develop passive telecom infrastructure in the region with a primary focus on investment in expanding into rural areas.

This strategy is clearly aligned with the 2050 vision of the Rwandan Government, so it is exciting to see how far we can all go together in fixing the connectivity gap.