The National Backbone now extends to all regions of the country spanning 4,300km extending connectivity to around 4,360 Government offices

The Ugandan government has announced a reduction in the cost of the internet for its ministries, agencies and departments. 

“I am delighted to announce that effective today 1st of August 2023, the Price of the Internet has reduced from 70$ to 35$ per Mbps per month,” said ICT Minister Chris Baryomunsi at a press conference in Kampala on Tuesday.

“This price reduction means Government Offices connected to the NBI will consume the internet at the lowest price in the market,” he added.

In the Financial Year 2012/13, National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U) had implemented the first Phases on the National Data Transmission Backbone Infrastructure project (NBI) to serve as the primary vehicle for all Government data, Internet and voice services but Internet prices were about 1,200 $ per MBPs.

The Government through NITA-U later reduced prices to 600 $ in 2014 and further 300 $ in 2016 as more Government MDAs and public offices were connected to the National Backbone Infrastructure.

Baryomunsi said the use of the NBI as a secure high-speed network for Government has led to lowering the cost of communication across Government and furthermore enabled the extension of the geographic reach of broadband networks across the country and altogether Improved Government’s efficiency and transparency through e-Government applications. 

The National Backbone now extends to all regions of the country spanning 4,300km extending connectivity to around 4,360 Government offices. 

“This landmark achievement solidifies the Government’s position as the undisputed market leader in setting Internet prices,” said the Minister.

“With this bold move, NITA-U will drive substantial savings on the government’s communication budget, catalyze the adoption of E-Government Services, and deepen Digitization,” he added.

However, the private sector continues to grapple with the high cost of the internet.

Baryomunsi said he had a strong conviction that government’s actions today will “inspire Private Internet Service Providers to follow suit, ultimately benefiting all Ugandans with more affordable and accessible Internet services for its unprecedented opportunities in innovation growth and development.”

NITA-U boss, Dr Hatwib Mugasa said the general outcome of the price cut is expected to help spur digitization, e-services absorption and growth of Internet usage across the country.

“We anticipate that the ripple effect of the Government price cut is expected to influence the average market cost and subsequently lower end user tariffs for business and citizens,” said Mugasa.

“Our resolve and commitment at NITA-U is to further low bandwidth costs, deepen digitization, accelerate e-services usage while at the same time lowering government expenditure through shared IT services like Internet and centralized hosting,” he emphasised.