BROADBAND INTERNET QUALITY OF SERVICES GUIDELINES I. INTRODUCTION Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency was established, as per the law no 39/2001 of 13/09/2001, as an independent authority to administer the telecommunications sector, promote transparency, protect free competition and provide inclusive service, as well as protect user’s rights. In exercise of powers conferred upon the regulatory board under the chapter 2, article 3 section 9 of the presidential order no 04/01 of 15/03/2004 determining specific duties of the regulatory board in telecommunications matters, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) hereby makes the following Guidelines: II. DEFINITION, SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES 2.1 Short title, extent and commencement (1) These Guidelines shall be called as: ‘Broadband internet Quality of Service Guidelines 2009 (Sept. of 2009). (2) These Guidelines shall be applicable to all the Internet Service Providers, Telecom Operators and other entities related to the subject. (3) These Guidelines shall come into force with effect from 04 September 2009. 2.2 Scope These Guidelines identify minimum quality of service standards, and associated measurement, reporting and record keeping tasks. 2.3 Definitions In these Guidelines, unless the context otherwise requires: ‘Agency’ means the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA). ‘Basic Service’ means service derived from a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) as specified in the license. ‘Broadband’ is defined as “An always-on data connection that is able to support interactive services including Internet access and has the capability of the minimum download speed of 256 kilobits per second (kbps) to an individual subscriber from the Internet node of the service provider intending to provide Broadband service where multiple such individual Broadband connections are Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency 3