East African digital postal service MPOST has officially launched its e-P.O.Box system in Rwanda, designed to transform the postal experience for millions of Rwandan citizens.
Launched in 2016, MPost is a platform that enables the conversion of mobile numbers into official virtual addresses, which allows notifications to be sent to clients whenever they get mail through their postal addresses. The system is currently running in Kenya.
The startup, which raised Series A funding in 2019, announced in December last year it had relocated its headquarters from Nairobi to to Kigali, and it has now launched its service in Rwanda. The startup said the expansion underscored its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance accessibility and efficiency in postal services across Africa.
Currently, Rwanda has less than one per cent of its population attached to a post office, with the system often characterised by long queues and limited accessibility. MPOST’s e-P.O.Box system will enable Rwandan citizens to convert their mobile phone numbers into formal postal addresses, allowing more individuals and businesses to receive mail and parcels directly to their mobile-linked e-P.O.Box, eliminating the need for physical PO boxes and providing a seamless and convenient postal experience.
“The virtual platform commits to reach over five million citizens within the next three years. By integrating the local postal services and leveraging the high mobile phone penetration in Rwanda, MPOST aims to offer an inclusive solution that caters to both urban and rural populations,” the startup said. “The platform prioritises security and data protection, incorporating robust encryption measures to safeguard user information and ensure the confidentiality of communications.”
