USAID and Roke Telkom Launch New Telecom Site in Uganda

Summary:

• The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Roke Telkom have launched a new telecommunications site in Yumbe, Uganda, as part of a larger initiative to expand fixed wireless broadband across underserved districts. This collaboration, under USAID’s Digital Invest program, aims to reduce internet costs and enhance connectivity.

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The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has teamed up with Roke Telkom to officially launch a new telecommunications site in Yumbe, Uganda. This fixed wireless infrastructure initiative by Roke is part of a broader collaboration with USAID’s Digital Invest program.

USAID is supporting Roke, a fully Ugandan-owned-and-operated internet service provider (ISP), to expand fixed broadband infrastructure at 12 sites in underserved districts across the country. The partnership aims to bolster Uganda’s digital ecosystem by reducing the costs of co-location and wholesale services for ISPs nationwide, making internet services more affordable for individuals and businesses.

As a result of the new infrastructure, Roke will expand its RokeSpot solution, providing low-cost Wi-Fi service via hotspots in Uganda. Additionally, Roke will further its partnership with Hello World to offer connectivity to the nonprofit’s digital hubs, which provide access to devices, training, and community support in marginalized areas.

Roger Sekaziga, CEO and Co-founder of Roke Telkom, stated, “At Roke, our concern has always been the high costs of deploying the internet, which has consigned those that need it most to a much slower digital lane. With this USAID partnership, we believe that we can empower communities by transitioning them from being completely off-grid to having the internet through fixed wireless; and, in so doing, help bridge the digital divide.”

USAID Uganda Mission Director Daniele Nyirandutiye added, “Today, we are taking a big step toward a future where all Ugandans can participate in the digital economy and access life-changing tools and opportunities. The U.S. government’s partnership with Roke is proof of what we can accomplish when the public and private sectors are intentional about learning from each other, combining resources, and building a shared vision to empower our communities.”

USAID’s Digital Invest program collaborates with impact-focused investment fund managers, internet infrastructure developers, and other private sector companies to enhance internet connectivity and digital services for un- and under-connected communities in emerging markets through a blended finance approach. Since its launch by President Biden in 2022 as part of the G7-led Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), Digital Invest has provided $8.45 million in U.S. government funding to 13 partners, who have raised over $300 million in investment capital. The program supports 68 technology companies operating in 40 countries and is part of the Digital Connectivity and Cybersecurity Partnership (DCCP), a U.S. government interagency initiative led by the U.S. Department of State to promote an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet and stable cyberspace.

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