Nape hails UCSAF for construction of 758 communications towers

MANYARA: THE Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye  has paid tribute to the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) for implementing well a project for the construction of 758 communications towers.

He directed authorities in Kiteto District, Manyara Region to ensure that protection of the towers should be the first priority.

He expressed his sentiments at Kinua Village in Namelock Ward, Kiteto district after launching the Airtel Communications tower, during his working tour to inspect the projects that were signed last year.

In May 2023, President Samia Suluhu Hassan graced the official signing of the contracts between telecommunication companies and UCSAF for the construction of 758 towers countrywide aimed at helping all Tanzanians to have access to communications.

At the well-attended event in the country’s capital of Dodoma, the Head of State noted that the implementation of the project was an important milestone towards the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) which is a basic factor towards the digital economy.

“The completion of these projects will greatly help to increase the national income due to the increase in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and communication in other sectors,” she stated.

She added: “The more rural people use networks, the more they get informed on their various activities, solve their problems and increase production.

Now we are engaging in agriculture that involves youth in the country and it is the youth who use these networks more than others. We promote mobile usage and increase productivity.”

However, the President warned against all sorts of bureaucracy in issuing permits for the implementation of projects. insisting that they shouldn’t go beyond one month.

“I want to see the legal permits for the installation of communication towers in the signed contracts today being issued in a period of not more than one month,’’ she said.

The telecom companies involved in the initiative include Vodacom, Airtel, TTCL, TIGO, and HALOTEL.

On Monday, Mr Nnauye directed the Kiteto District Commissioner, Remidius Mwema to make sure that security of the newly launched communication tower was fully protected to avoid vandalism, as he also directed that the road going to the tower was upgraded in order to help technicians reach at the site immediately in case of emergency.

“I wish to also direct authorities involved to make sure that there is reliable electricity at all sites that have these communication towers because using generators is very costly,’’ he said.

The minister further noted that by using generators, every communications tower was costing the government about 1.8m/- per month, while the normal electricity was costing only 400,000/-.

Therefore, to reduce operational costs, the minister directed that measures should be taken to ensure that there was electricity at all communications towers.

During the signing of the contracts last year, President Samia instructed the Tanzania Rural Energy Agency (REA) to provide electricity to all areas with communication towers, which will prevent telecommunication companies from incurring high expenses on generators.