A Shropshire media and digital communications company has secured a top contract with the Rwandan government against worldwide competition.

Telford-based Scream.co.uk has delivered the first stage in a three-year information technology programme to design, build, install and offer training and support for public information kiosks at both major Rwandan institutions and rural communities as part of the country’s e-government project.

Pitching against tough competition in a global tender, the company secured the contract with the Rwandan Information Technology Authority.

The kiosks are composed touch screens and printers, connected to the internet to help service seekers check public information they need online, check their e-mails or surf internet normally, and eventually print information they need to keep.

The launch was marked by the installation of the first kiosk at Kigali International Airport, used to display flight information and other services.

The government has already bought ten kiosks that will also be installed at the Rwanda Revenue Authority, Kigali City Council, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Office of Immigration and the National University of Rwanda, but has plans to make more available in villages, cities and municipalities.

Jonathan Baxter, managing director at Scream.co.uk, said: “This is the first project of its kind in Rwanda and the first Scream.co.uk has worked on in the African continent. Although still in its early stages, initial feedback from the government, the various partners involved and the public has been very positive. We look forward to rolling out the other stages of the programme and as well as continued success for an exciting project in Rwanda.”

Alphonse Zigira, RITA’s director of rural and community access, said: “This is the first step for e-government. Soon we will have district websites and every month RITA will help public institutions to load the kiosks with information that our citizens need in order to help them gain quicker access to services. The next phase, which extends the technology throughout the rest of the country, will be accompanied by training and raising awareness for the people in villages and communities on how to use the equipment.”

Originally established in 1996, Scream Technology catered for the UK public sector web development and communications market.

Evolving into Scream.co.uk in 2000, the company is now a national award winning digital media and communications company with a broad client base across both European public sectors and the UK private sector, providing touch-screen kiosks, kiosk maintenance, kiosk software, and bespoke information system applications.