Mobile money subscriptions hit 51.7m

DAR ES SALAAM: AS Tanzania throws weight behind financial inclusiveness, mobile money service subscriptions have increased by 4.1 million to 51.7 million in three months, latest Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA)’s report indicates.

According to the regulator’s Communication Statistics for Quarter ending 30th September 2023, the subscription jumped from 47.3 million accounts in the quarter ending June 2023 to 51.4 million accounts.

It stated that M-Pesa has a larger share of 37 per cent of mobile money accounts in the market followed by Tigo Pesa (30 per cent), Airtel Money (22 per cent) Halopesa (8 per cent) and T-Pesa has the market share of 3 per cent.

Mobile money subscriptions, according to the report, refer to the count of all active SIM cards with mobile money service accounts which have registered an activity/have been used at least once in the past three months.

Presenting the Quarterly Communication Sector Performance Report for quarter one of 2023-2024 in Arusha, TCRA’s director general Dr Jabiri Bakari noted that there was a notable achievement recorded in the said period on increased 3G and 4G services population coverage.

The director said the move paves the way for future growth in the sector and digital economy.

Dr Jabir reiterated its commitment to educating the public and promoting online safety, aligning with the global Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October.

He highlighted the ongoing “Futa Delete Kabisa” (Delete completely) public awareness campaign, urging users of communication services to refrain from spreading unverified and obscene content in the online space.

Dr Bakari advised users of communication services in the country to report fraudulent messages or calls received on their phones by sending a short message to 15040 through which regulatory action will be instituted.

“When you receive information that you’re unsure about, information that doesn’t align with our values, information that is baseless, you should delete it immediately because spreading it is a mistake and can lead to problems. Delete it permanently,” emphasised Dr Bakari.

In the first quarter of the 2023/2024 financial year, Jabiri indicated that the communications sector continues to grow in terms of quantity, quality, technology advancement, and improved regulatory frameworks.

The ever-evolving landscape of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been a driving force behind our nation’s economic growth. With advancement in ICT, increased internet penetration, the rise of mobile devices, and the growing demand for digital services, the communication sector now plays a crucial role, contributing approximately 1.5 per cent to our national GDP.

The regulatory body was established 20 years ago to oversee the communications sector in the United Republic of Tanzania.

It regularly publishes quarterly reports on the performance of the communications sector, ensuring stakeholders stay abreast of the rapid advancements and improvements.

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