KIGALI, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The number of internet service subscribers in Rwanda rose 25 percent in the previous fiscal year that ended June, the country's regulatory authority said on Monday.

Internet service subscription increased from 4,375,016 to 5,475,448, representing an increase of 25 percent, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority said in a report.

According to the report, the internet penetration rate of Rwanda stood at 46.4 percent at the end of June 2018.

The increase is mainly attributed to the affordability of smart phone devices and flexible pricing of internet bundles, the statement said.

Rwanda's information and communication technology (ICT) sector continues to grow, with mobile phone subscription rising from 8,819,217 to 9,226,721, a 4.6 percent surge.

The fiscal year ended with a 78.1 percent mobile penetration rate, up from 76.5 percent in the previous fiscal year, thanks to a conducive legal and regulatory framework, it said.

Rwanda's telecommunication market in the reporting period was marked by the acquisition of TIGO Rwanda by its rival AIRTEL Rwanda.

According to RURA, as of June 2018, Rwanda' telecom market had two main operators, MTN and the incorporated TIGO-AIRTEL, five main internet service providers, one wholesale network service provider, two network facility providers and 27 retail internet service providers. Enditem