Tanzania Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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Last updated: 16 Jul 2024 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 200

Tanzanian government grants telcos a TZS326 billion subsidy to improve network coverage

Tanzania’s mobile operators have benefited from the 2022 auction of additional spectrum, with licensees launching 5G services. By March 2024, 5G coverage had reached 13% of the population. Conscious of its dependence on the private sector to realise its Digital Tanzania ambitions, the government has signed several deals with the telcos aimed at ensuring that mobile and broadband services are delivered nationally.

The fixed-line sector remains largely controlled by the incumbent telco TTCL, which has struggled to make headway. The government considers that the company has failed to operate effectively as a provider of fixed phone services and should focus on developing broadband networks. To this end, TTCL has announced ambitious plans to cover all of the country's 139 districts with broadband by the end of 2024 and to connect an additional one million premises to fibre by 2027.

The government has also sought to increase broadband penetration by a range of measures, including the reduction in VAT charged on the sale of smartphones and other devices, and reductions in the cost of data. Public opposition to a controversial tax on m-money transactions forced the government in mid-2022 to reduce charges. In mid-2023 the government also reduced the telecommunications Right-of-Way fee by 80%. This substantially reduced service costs and has enabled telcos to accelerate the expansion of broadband networks. The reduced costs are also reflected in lower end-user prices, thus encouraging the take-up of online services.

The landing of the first international submarine cables in the country some years ago revolutionised the telecom market, which up to that point had entirely depended on expensive satellite connections. Liquid Intelligent Technologies has completed a terrestrial cable network linking the East and West coasts of Africa, with an important terminus at Dar es Salaam linking to three submarine cables. In parallel, the government continues to invest in the national backbone network. It has signed agreements to connect the network to neighbouring countries including the DRC, Uganda, and Malawi.

Key developments

  • Tanzania and DRC agree to share telecom infrastructure in a bid to improve investment and develop economic opportunities.
  • Regulator sets cost-based interconnection charges effective to December 2027.
  • International internet capacity increased to 5.1TB as of March 2024.
  • Government reduces right-of-way fee for telcos using land managed by the Tanzania Roads Agency.
  • Honora Tanzania partners with DCB Bank to extend financial services for the unbanked, launches its Tigo Fibre service.
  • Tanzania secures a position in orbit at 16 degrees West for its own satellite.
  • Vodacom acquires Smile Communications Tanzania to bolster its LTE network.
  • Starlink applies for a license to operate satellite broadband services.
  • Report update includes regulator’s market data to March 2024, operator data to Q1 2024, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, 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 (BOL), Sasatel (Dovetel), Africa Online, Raha.com, Tele2, Alink, SatCom Networks, SimbaNet, Afsat, Cats-Net

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