UCSAF commits to extend communication services to 29m Tanzanians

DAR ES SALAAM: The Director General of the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), Engineer Peter Mwasalyanda, has announced that the fund has signed agreements to extend communication services to 1,974 wards comprising 5,111 villages with a total population of 29,154,440 people.

 The aim of this initiative is to ensure that more Tanzanians, especially those in rural areas, have access to reliable communication services.

Speaking today in Dar es Salaam during a working session with media editors organized by the Office of the Treasury Registrar, Engineer Mwasalyanda stated that a total of 2,152 towers will be constructed in these areas to improve nationwide access to communication services.

ALSO READ: Nape hails UCSAF for construction of 758 communications towers

He explained that, to date, completed projects have reached 1,661 wards, 4,570 villages, and a population of 25,148,031 people who have already benefited. Additionally, 1,810 towers have been completed in the designated areas, underscoring the significant progress made in implementing the project.

Engineer Mwasalyanda added that in May 2023, the government, through UCSAF, signed additional agreements with various service providers to bring communication services to more rural areas. Under this new phase of the project, 713 wards will benefit, 758 towers will be constructed, and the services will cover 127 districts across 26 regions. An estimated 8.5 million people are expected to gain reliable communication access through this phase, with a total of TZS 126 billion allocated as subsidies for its implementation.

Moreover, the Director noted that 304 existing towers have been upgraded from 2G to 3 G and 4G technologies, for 5.51bn/-.

 He confirmed that all 304 tower upgrades have been completed.

 These efforts by UCSAF continue to support the government’s mission of ensuring that every Tanzanian, regardless of location, has access to modern and dependable communication services to promote social and economic development.