Airtel Rwanda is licking its paws in satisfaction after the conclusion of the mobile phone network provider’s latest promotional campaign.

The Bharti Airtel’s subsidiary that opened shop in the country last year igniting a stiff competition in call tariffs between the giant MTN Rwandacell and Millicom’s subscidiary-Tigo Rwanda is now setting another pace that is likely to change the telecom’s promotions approach.

“But you see when the company is giving back to its clients prizes that are long term investments, you expect a good return in royalty,” Davis Mukiza, a Business Consultant told East African Business Week.

Whilst with its decision to give a house and cows to its clients during the recent concluded Birahebuje(they are Suprising), the operator’s first promotion will mean that the other operators have to rethink their promo strategies cope with a new trend.

“Rwandans are a bit unique from other people say in the region because they are always looking at long term investments,” Mukiza added.

Indeed with the recent Rwanda Financial Diaries report 2013 indicated that most Rwandans preferred to invest their savings in constructing houses for both domestic and commercial, owning a farm

and taking their children to school.

Moreover, last year’s competition within the sector that saw reforms in marketing, promotions and revision of call tariffs to the benefit of clients saw an increase in revenues from the sector.

According to Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority-RURA the telecom sector fetched Rwf 116 billion as of end of December last year up from Rwf 97 billion in 2011.

“I look at this house as a big investment for my family,” Mukarwigyema Afisah from Musanze district the lucky winner of Airtel’s Rwf 70 million house told Business week.

Marcellin Paluku Airtel Rwanda Country Manager says that the telecom is always looking at providing quality services to its clients but also contribute to improving livelihoods of Rwandans.

“Airtel is striking the balance between quality and affordability that has been achieved in other Airtel operations,” said Paluku.

Paluku said that the cash prizes all cost Rwf 110 million and that the promo certainly had increased its subscriber base.

Airtel Rwanda currently has slightly more than 570,739 subscribers countrywide.

Source : abdas.org