Airtel claims helm in public-private partnership

DAR ES SALAAM: AIRTEL Tanzania has invested over 130bn/-in infrastructure, securing additional spectrum, expanding network coverage, and modernizing platforms to support high-demand digital services since January this year.

The investments lay the groundwork for advanced technologies such as 5G and enhanced mobile financial platforms.

The firm’s Managing Director, Charles Kamoto, who recently marked one year at the helm, said the company’s progress reflects both strong teamwork and the strategic value of combining government oversight with private-sector innovation.

“This milestone is not about me; it is a testament to the exceptional people we have driving Airtel’s success every day,” he noted, underscoring the company’s focus on human capital and performance-driven leadership.

 In the last five years, its total infrastructure investments have surpassed 650bn/-.

The company’s expansion efforts are also boosted by the government-backed Digital Tanzania Project, under which Airtel is partnering with the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) to build 758 new towers aimed at improving rural connectivity.

Kamoto highlighted new innovations rolled out during the year, including AI-powered security tools like Spam Alert and the launch of Voice over LTE (VoLTE). “By introducing VoLTE, we are offering the best call quality in the market and contributing to Tanzania’s digital evolution,” he said, adding that nationwide deployment is now fully underway.

Airtel’s financial contribution to the government has also grown.

During the past year, the company paid 73.9bn/- in dividends, positioning it among the top contributors to state revenue.

 It was also recognized by the Tanzania Revenue Authority as the most compliant taxpayer in the service category.

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Regulatory data further reflects the company’s strong market performance. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) reported that Airtel held the highest voice communication traffic in September, with a 35.3 percent share of on-net traffic and 29.3 percent of off-net traffic.

Airtel’s “Kataa Matapeli” anti-fraud campaign—powered by AI-driven spam detection—has also shown measurable impact. Fraudulent attempts dropped from 19 percent to 12 percent in September, a seven-point decline attributed to improved alerts, security measures, and customer education.

The company continues to support Tanzania’s broader digital transformation through the rising adoption of emerging technologies. Machine-to-Machine (M2M) subscriptions grew 8.1 percent year-on-year to 358,500, reflecting expanding use of IoT solutions across industries.

Mobile money remains another growth pillar. Airtel Money subscriptions increased from 11.4 million in September last year to 12.9 million this year—an annual rise of 13.2 percent. Monthly mobile money transactions also climbed 12.7 percent, reaching 104.4 million in September. The company says the surge demonstrates stronger customer trust, improved service accessibility, and growing digital financial inclusion nationwide.

With continued infrastructure investment, expanding digital services, and deepening cooperation with government agencies, Airtel Tanzania says it is well-positioned to drive the next phase of the country’s digital economy and support long-term national development.