Tanzania - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Last updated: 25 May 2020 Update History

Report Pages: 151

Analyst: Henry Lancaster

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Tanzania gaining further mobile market consolidation

Tanzania’s telecom sector enjoys effective competition, particularly in the mobile segment. There remains considerable movement within it, with Smart having stopped services in late 2019 and Tigo having completed its merger with Zantel.

The government has encouraged foreign participation to promote economic growth and social development, and policy reforms have led to the country having one of the most liberal telecom sectors in Africa.

Tanzania only has one fixed-line operator, the incumbent TTC, after the second provider stopped offering fixed services. There are also several mobile service providers, with four additional players licensed under a new converged regulatory regime. Mobile penetration reached 85% by early 2020, and growth in the number of subscribers remains strong. In recent years a price war among these players has adversely affected the smaller operators (including Smart), which have suffered from customer churn.

Following the launch of mobile broadband services, the mobile network operators have become the leading ISPs. Operators are hoping for revenue growth in the mobile data services market, given that the voice market is almost entirely prepaid and voice ARPU continues to fall. To this end they have invested in network upgrades. A fast-developing source of revenue is from mobile money transfer and m-banking services.

The landing of the first fibre optic international submarine cables in the country some years ago revolutionised the market which up to that point had entirely depended on expensive satellite connections. In parallel, the government is working on the later phases of a national fibre backbone network aimed at connecting population centres around the country.

The government has become more determined to manage the telecom sector more effectively. It has cracked down on counterfeit smartphones, which were thought to account for up to 30% of devices in circulation, and has introduced a biometric SIM card registration scheme.

BuddeComm notes that the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020 is having a significant impact on production and supply chains globally. During the coming year the telecoms sector to various degrees is likely to experience a downturn in mobile device production, while it may also be difficult for network operators to manage workflows when maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure. Overall progress towards 5G may be postponed or slowed down in some countries.

On the consumer side, spending on telecoms services and devices is under pressure from the financial effect of large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes. However, the crucial nature of telecom services, both for general communication as well as a tool for home-working, will offset such pressures. In many markets the net effect should be a steady though reduced increased in subscriber growth.

Although it is challenging to predict and interpret the long-term impacts of the crisis as it develops, these have been acknowledged in the industry forecasts contained in this report.

The report also covers the responses of the telecom operators as well as government agencies and regulators as they react to the crisis to ensure that citizens can continue to make optimum use of telecom services. This can be reflected in subsidy schemes and the promotion of tele-health and tele-education, among other solutions.

Key developments

Tigo completes merger with Zantel;
New MTRs agreed to 2022;
Tigo Pesa receives the GSMA Mobile Money Certification;
Halotel Tanzania launches HaloPesa m-banking service;
TTC extends LTE-A service, launches investment program for its FttP project;
Regulator completes biometric SIM card registration scheme;
TTC seeks TZS1.77 trillion over five years to upgrade networks and gain market share;
Government allocates TZS17.5 billion to improve rural telecom infrastructure;
Report update includes regulator’s market data to December 2019, operator data to Q4 2019, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of COVID-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report

Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTC); Zanzibar Telecommunications Corporation (Zantel); Vodacom Tanzania; Bharti Airtel (Zain); Millicom (Tigo); Benson Informatics Limited (BOL); Sasatel (Dovetel); Africa Online; Raha.com; Tele2; Alink; SatCom Networks; SimbaNet; Afsat; Cats-Net

Key Statistics
Regional African Market Comparison

TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband
Fixed and mobile broadband

Country overview
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Economic considerations and responses
Mobile devices
Subscribers
Infrastructure

Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority
National Telecommunications Policy 1997
National ICT Policy
Regulatory overhaul
Electronic and Postal Communication Act 2010
Electronic and Postal Communications Regulations 2018
Fixed-line developments

Telecom sector liberalisation
Converged licensing framework (CLF)
International gateways
Interconnection
Universal Communication Services Access Fund (UCSAF)
Foreign ownership restrictions

Mobile network developments

Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Quality of Service
Spectrum auction – 700MHz
Tariffs
International roaming
Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs)
Network sharing
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

Mobile data services
Mobile broadband

Mobile infrastructure

4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments

Major mobile operators

TTC Mobile
Vodacom Tanzania
Airtel Tanzania
Tigo Tanzania
Zanzibar Telecommunication (Zantel)
Halotel (Viettel Tanzania0
Mobile Virtual network Operators (MVNOs)

Mobile content and applications

M-money, m-banking
M-health

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview

Market analysis
Broadband statistics
Public internet access locations
Tanzania Internet Exchange (TIX, AIXP)

Broadband infrastructure

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Networks
Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
EV-DO
Fixed wireless (WiMAX, WiBro, Wi-Fi)
Satellite broadband

Digital economy

E-health
E-learning

Fixed network operators

Privatisation and exclusivity period 2000-2005
SaskTel management contract 2007-2009
Future direction

Zantel
Smart

Telecommunications infrastructure

TTC’s fixed-line network
Wireless local loop (WLL)
Private networks
National fibre backbone
International infrastructure

Submarine fibre
Satellite
Terrestrial

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities – Tanzania – 2020 (e)
Table 2 – Change in average mobile tariffs – 2010 – 2019
Table 3 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 4 – Mobile voice subscriber market share by operator – 2011 – 2019
Table 5 – Average use of services per subscriber – 2012 – 2019
Table 6 – Change in mobile voice traffic by type – 2014 – 2019
Table 7 – Growth in the number of SMS sent – 2012 – 2019
Table 8 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Table 9 – Growth in the number of internet users and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Table 10 – Growth in the number of TTC’ mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 11 – Growth in the number of Vodacom Tanzania’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 12 – Growth in the number of Airtel Tanzania’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 13 – Growth in the number of Tigo Tanzania’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 14 – Change in the number of Zantel’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Table 15 – Growth in the number of Halotel’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Table 16 – Mobile money subscriptions by operator– 2015 – 2019
Table 17 – Share of mobile money subscriptions by operator– 2018 – 2019
Table 18 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2025
Table 19 – Fixed wireless internet subscribers – 2013 – 2019
Table 20 – Decline in the number of Smart’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Table 23 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2010 – 2017
Table 24 – Historic – Fixed interconnection rates – 2013- 2017
Table 25 – Historic - Average mobile tariffs – 2005 – 2009
Table 26 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1995 – 2009
Table 27 – Historic - Vodacom Tanzania data subscribers – 2013 – 2016
Table 28 – Historic - Vodacom Tanzania ARPU ($) – 2003 – 2014
Table 29 – Historic - Vodacom Tanzania ARPU (TZS) – 2011 – 2016
Table 30 – Historic - TTC mobile subscribers – 2006 – 2009
Table 31 – Historic - Vodacom Tanzania subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 32 – Historic - Airtel Tanzania subscribers – 2002 – 2009
Table 33 – Historic - Millicom Tanzania mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 34 – Historic – Zantel’s mobile subscribers – 2000 – 2009
Table 35 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 1999 – 2015
Table 36 – Historic - Fixed-line internet subscribers – 2001 – 2009
Table 37 – Historic - Fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2009
Table 38 – Historic - Cable modem broadband subscribers – 2005 – 2014
Table 39 – Historic - TTC financial data – 2010; 2012 – 2014
Table 40 – Historic - Fixed lines in service by operator and teledensity – 1999 – 2009
Table 41 – Historic - Fixed lines in service – 1995 – 2009
Table 42 – Historic - International bandwidth – 2001 – 2009

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Overall Africa view - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 2 – East Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per Capita
Chart 3 – Africa – Bottom-tier Telecoms Maturity Index (Market Emergents)
Chart 4 – East Africa –Telecoms Maturity Index by country
Chart 5 – East Africa mobile subscriber penetration versus mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 – East Africa fixed and mobile penetration rates
Chart 7 – Change in average mobile tariffs – 2010 – 2019
Chart 8 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 9 – Mobile voice subscriber market share by operator – 2011 – 2019
Chart 10 – Growth in the number of SMS sent – 2012 – 2019
Chart 11 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2010 – 2025
Chart 12 – Growth in the number of internet users and penetration rate – 2010 – 2019
Chart 13 – Growth in the number of TTC’ mobile subscribers – 2006 – 2019
Chart 14 – Growth in the number of Vodacom Tanzania’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 15 – Growth in the number of Airtel Tanzania’s mobile subscribers – 2010 – 2019
Chart 16 – Tigo Tanzania mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 17 – Change in the number of Zantel’s mobile subscribers – 2009 – 2019
Chart 18 – Growth in the number of Halotel’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Chart 19 – Mobile money subscriptions by operator– 2015 – 2019
Chart 20 – Growth in the number of fixed-line broadband subscribers – 2010 – 2025
Chart 21 – Decline in the number of Smart’s mobile subscribers – 2015 – 2019
Chart 23 – Growth in international internet bandwidth – 2009 – 2017

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 2 – East Africa - Key Characteristics of Telecoms Markets by Country
Exhibit 3 – 700MHz spectrum auction – June 2018
Exhibit 4 – Emergency rescue scheme for Lake Victoria
Exhibit 5 – 2Africa submarine cable
Exhibit 6 – 2Africa landing stations

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Paul owns and manages the world's largest online Telecommunications Consultancy and is very active on the international telecommunication scene. A very hard worker who is extremely well informed and well connected with all tiers of the ICT industry. He is the force behind the NBN project implementation and a catalyst for the progress of the Digital Economy between the Industry and the powers that be, in the government

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Tanzania - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

USD 750.00

Tanzania gaining further mobile market consolidation

Key developments

Companies mentioned in this report

Key Statistics

Regional African Market Comparison

Country overview

COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Digital economy

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

USD 750.00

Share this Report

Purchase with Confidence

Research Methodology

Sample Reports

Research

Hot Topics

News & Views