MTN Rwandacell (MTN Rwanda) and Viamo launched Miss Baza, an AI powered, voice first conversational assistant created through their partnership to make useful information simpler and more inclusive to access through a basic phone call.
The partnership brings together MTN Rwanda’s connectivity and customer reach with Viamo’s experience in voice based digital services. Together, the organisations are making AI more practical, inclusive and relevant to customers across Rwanda.
Customers dial 845 from an MTN mobile phone, ask open ended questions in Kinyarwanda or English and listen to spoken responses. No smartphone, mobile data, app download, typing or complex navigation is required. Additional languages, including French, are planned for the future. Through “Baza. Menya.”, “Ask and know”, Miss Baza turns a simple phone call into a doorway to information.
The launch reflects MTN Rwanda’s ambition to lead digital solutions for Rwanda’s progress and evolve from primarily a connectivity provider into a digital partner in people’s everyday lives. Miss Baza contributes to broader efforts to build awareness, understanding and adoption of AI alongside government, industry, partners and communities advancing Rwanda’s digital transformation.
MTN customers receive up to 30 free minutes per calendar month; unused minutes do not roll over. After the allowance is exhausted, usage costs RWF 45 per minute, deducted from the customer’s main airtime balance on an out of bundle basis. Before the call and during the call audio notifications inform customers before any charge is deducted.
This reflects the partnership approach guiding the development of Miss Baza: bringing onboard institutions and businesses with expertise in different fields to contribute relevant, up-to-date content. By building a network of trusted content partners, MTN Rwanda and Viamo aim to broaden the range of information available through the platform while keeping it practical and responsive to customers’ everyday needs.
Eden Care is coming onboard to support Miss Baza with accessible health information and practical wellbeing tips, helping customers make more informed everyday health choices through a simple voice interaction.
The launch reinforces MTN Rwanda’s commitment to being a trusted digital partner, connecting people not only to networks and services, but also to information and digital tools that can help them participate more fully in this digital economy.
Monzer Ali, MTN Rwanda Chief Executive Officer
Digital transformation only matters when people can participate. AI should meet people where they are, not require people to change who they are to use it. The real impact is not how advanced the technology is, but how useful, accessible and trusted we can make it for people. We will continue listening to customers, improving the experience and being transparent about what the service can and cannot do. This is how we turn connectivity into practical value and help more Rwandans participate confidently in the digital future.
Celine Duros, Senior Regional Director, Partnerships, ESA & Asia, Viamo
Miss Baza shows how Rwanda can lead in making AI accessible to everyone. Together, MTN Rwanda, Viamo and Google are bringing a personal AI assistant to people through a simple phone call in Kinyarwanda, using the phones they already own. Whether someone wants to access agriculture information, learn a new skill or grow a business, Miss Baza makes AI practical and relevant to everyday life.
Kevin Rudahinduka, Eden Care Rwanda, Chief Executive Officer
Technology should adapt to people, not the other way around. Through our partnership with Miss Baza/Viamo and MTN Rwanda, we see an opportunity to bridge this gap by making health insurance easier to understand and use. We want every Rwandan, regardless of their digital literacy or the type of phone they own, to better understand their health benefits, know how to access care, and make informed decisions about prevention and their well-being
