Kigali AZ · Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd · Rwanda Data Protection Act
Sovereign Cloud in Rwanda
Your data. Your jurisdiction. Your cloud. Megabit Cloud is operated by Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd , a locally incorporated entity, with infrastructure in Kigali. Data stays in Rwanda. No foreign law. No cross-border transfers. Full Rwanda Data Protection Act compliance.
What does sovereign cloud mean in Rwanda?
Sovereign cloud is not just about physical location. It requires the full stack: local infrastructure, a locally incorporated operator, and legal jurisdiction that stays within Rwanda. Megabit Cloud delivers all three.
Data stays in Rwanda
Your data is stored and processed exclusively in the Kigali availability zone. It does not cross Rwanda's borders to Europe, the US, or any third country, ever.
Locally incorporated operator
Megabit Cloud is operated by Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd, a company registered in Rwanda under Rwandan law. Your vendor is a Rwandan legal entity, not a foreign provider with a local office.
Rwanda Data Protection Act compliant
The Rwanda Data Protection Act governs how personal data is collected, processed, and stored. Hosting in the Kigali AZ with a local operator means you are processing data under Rwandan law.
No foreign government jurisdiction
Data hosted offshore, even with a provider that has a local presence, may be subject to foreign laws (CLOUD Act, GDPR, UK RIPA). Rwanda-hosted data under a Rwandan entity is not.
RINEX peering, local traffic stays local
Megabit Cloud peers at RINEX, the Rwanda Internet Exchange Point. Traffic between Rwandan users and your Rwanda-hosted application stays within Rwanda's network.
Offshore hosting vs. sovereign cloud in Rwanda
Many Rwandan organisations use offshore hosting, EU, US, or South African providers. Here is what that means in practice.
| Factor | Offshore hosting | Megabit Cloud Rwanda |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | EU, US, or South Africa | Kigali, Rwanda |
| Legal jurisdiction | Foreign law (GDPR, CLOUD Act) | Rwandan law exclusively |
| Operator incorporation | Foreign entity | Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd (local) |
| Rwanda Data Protection Act | ⚠ Partial, may require DPA | ✓ Fully compliant |
| BNR data residency | ✗ Non-compliant for core data | ✓ Kigali AZ compliant |
| Latency for Rwanda users | High, 100–300 ms | Low, < 20 ms |
| RINEX peering | ✗ Traffic goes offshore | ✓ Local traffic stays local |
| Local payment (RWF / MoMo) | ✗ USD/EUR only | ✓ RWF, Mobile Money |
| Local vendor on record | ✗ Foreign vendor | ✓ Local Rwandan entity |
| 24/7 local support | ✗ Timezone mismatch | ✓ East Africa team, Kigali |
Sovereign cloud for Rwanda's key sectors
Data sovereignty requirements differ by sector. Here is how Megabit Cloud solves them for each.
Financial institutions & fintechs
The challenge
BNR requires data residency for core banking and customer data. Offshore hosting creates compliance exposure.
Megabit Cloud solution
Kigali AZ with Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd as local operator. BNR-compliant data residency. For multi-AZ DR, GCI adds Huye AZ2, 130 km apart, satisfying BNR's 40 km requirement entirely within Rwanda.
Government & public sector
The challenge
Rwandan government ministries and agencies are required to host citizen data within Rwanda under national data governance policy.
Megabit Cloud solution
Fully sovereign Rwanda infrastructure. Locally registered operator. Suitable for ministry websites, citizen portals, and internal systems.
NGOs & development organisations
The challenge
Donor-funded programmes increasingly require data sovereignty for beneficiary data. Hosting beneficiary data on US or EU servers creates GDPR and ethical risk.
Megabit Cloud solution
Rwanda-based hosting with a local legal entity. Data stays within Rwanda. Suitable for programme management systems, case management, and impact tracking platforms.
Startups & SaaS companies
The challenge
Rwandan startups building for local or regional markets need infrastructure in-country to satisfy enterprise customer procurement requirements.
Megabit Cloud solution
Kigali AZ cloud servers, managed databases, and app hosting. Enterprise customers can verify local data residency. Credibility for B2B deals with banks, telcos, and government.
Healthcare & medical
The challenge
Patient data and health records require in-country storage under Rwandan health data regulations.
Megabit Cloud solution
Rwanda-hosted infrastructure with local operator. Compliant with Rwanda health data governance requirements.
Gewape Cloud Group · Rwanda
Rwanda's only fully sovereign cloud group
Gewape Cloud Group is the only technology group with locally incorporated cloud infrastructure in Rwanda, covering every tier, from a $2.99/mo website to a multi-AZ private cloud for regulated financial institutions, all under Rwandan law, all with data that stays within Rwanda.
Cloud hosting platform
Megabit Cloud
- Web hosting, Cloud Servers, WordPress, app hosting
- Managed databases, Kubernetes, object storage
- Business email, domains, SSL
- From $2.99/mo, RWF billing, Mobile Money
Enterprise & sovereign cloud
Gewape Cloud Infrastructure (GCI)
- Private cloud & dedicated bare metal
- AZ1 Kigali + AZ2 Huye, BNR DR compliant
- Government, banking, telco, and regulated sectors
- Custom SLAs, compliance documentation
Bare metal as a service
Metal on Cloud
- Dedicated hardware provisioned in seconds
- Nairobi AZ, East Africa cluster
- No import delays, hardware is already racked
- For performance-critical and latency-sensitive workloads
Frequently asked questions, Sovereign cloud in Rwanda
What is sovereign cloud hosting in Rwanda?
Sovereign cloud hosting means your data and infrastructure are physically located in Rwanda, operated by a locally registered company (Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd), and subject exclusively to Rwandan law. Your data does not cross borders, and no foreign government has legal jurisdiction over it.
Is Megabit Cloud a sovereign cloud provider?
Yes. Megabit Cloud operates through Gewape Cloud Rwanda Ltd, a company incorporated in Rwanda. The Kigali availability zone is physically within Rwanda. Data processed there is subject to Rwandan law, not EU, US, or UK jurisdiction.
What does Gewape Cloud Group offer for sovereign cloud in Rwanda?
Gewape Cloud Group operates the full sovereign cloud stack in Rwanda. Megabit Cloud covers web hosting, Cloud Servers, managed databases, Kubernetes, and business email, all deployed from the Kigali AZ under Rwandan law. Gewape Cloud Infrastructure (GCI) extends this with private cloud, multi-AZ deployments (Kigali AZ1 + Huye AZ2), dedicated bare metal, and enterprise SLAs. Together the group covers every tier from startup to regulated enterprise, all in Rwanda, all under Rwandan jurisdiction.
Does hosting in Rwanda mean I comply with the Rwanda Data Protection Act?
Hosting with a Rwandan entity in the Kigali AZ is a necessary condition for Rwanda Data Protection Act compliance, but not the only one. You also need proper data processing agreements, privacy notices, and data governance practices. Megabit Cloud can provide the compliant infrastructure and the data processing agreement.
Is Megabit Cloud BNR compliant?
Megabit Cloud operates BNR-compliant infrastructure for standard financial services use cases through the Kigali AZ. For regulated financial institutions requiring multi-AZ DR separation (BNR's 40 km rule), Gewape Cloud Infrastructure (GCI) operates Kigali AZ1 and Huye AZ2, 130 km apart, within Rwanda. Contact our team to discuss your specific BNR requirements.
Do you offer data processing agreements (DPA) for Rwanda?
Yes. As a Rwandan-registered entity, Megabit Cloud can provide a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that satisfies Rwanda Data Protection Act requirements for controllers and processors.
What is RINEX peering and why does it matter for sovereignty?
RINEX is the Rwanda Internet Exchange Point. When Megabit Cloud peers at RINEX, traffic between Rwandan users and your Rwanda-hosted application stays within Rwanda's network instead of routing through international exchanges in Europe or South Africa. This reduces latency, lowers bandwidth cost, and keeps traffic within Rwanda's jurisdiction.
Start with sovereign cloud in Rwanda today
Your region. Your data. Your rules. Deploy from Kigali in minutes. Data stays in Rwanda. Billed in RWF.