The Tanzanian government, supported by the World Bank, has partnered with a number of mobile network operators to begin project ‘Digital Tanzania’. The government aims to see the extension of broadband services to 1,407 villages, benefiting over eight million Tanzanians across the country, with an aim to achieve 80 percent broadband penetration by 2025.
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H.E. President Suluhu of Tanzania said: “This project will see all 26 regions across Tanzania’s mainland reached with quality and reliable telecommunication services compared to Zanzibar which was wholly covered in November 2022.
“The presence of services is of great significance not only in rural areas but also in town areas as it accelerates development and inclusion politically, socially, and economically as well as for the safety and security of the nation. The implementation of this project is in line with the government’s commitment to improve telecommunication services and facilitate youth with opportunities in the ICT sector”.
The President also noted the government plans to change and expand the usage of feature phones to smartphones given the availability and assurance of quality communication services. The health sector, specifically telemedicine, should also see significant improvement. Suluhu has also commended the excellent implementation of the ‘m-mama’ program in partnership with the Vodacom Tanzania Foundation which has remarkably decreased the maternal mortality rate across Tanzania.
Philip Besiimire, managing director at Vodacom Tanzania Plc, said: “Over the years we have built thousands of sites across the country out of which 3,429 are 2G sites; 3,066 are 3G; 2,315 are 4G and last year we introduced the country’s first 5G network whereas to date we have built 231 sites in Tanzania’s mainland and Zanzibar, connecting Tanzanians, and reaching a broadband coverage of 93 per cent of the population. We continue to strengthen our network by widening our broadband coverage and modernising our 2G sites to meet modern world demands”.
