DAR ES SALAAM: THE volume of international postal items handled by the National Postal Operator has increased, despite a significant decline in mail volumes between 2019 and 2021, according to an analysis of the latest country communications sector status report.
Director General of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Dr Jabiri Bakari said in the recently released sector performance report for July to September 2024 that items posted internationally by the Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC) rose by 74 per cent between 2021 and 2023.
In 2023, approximately 979,625 items were posted to international destinations, up from 564,528 in 2021, marking a reversal of the previous sharp decline in international mail volumes.
TPC currently controls 39 per cent of Tanzania’s market share for domestic posted items, while other courier companies hold the remaining 61 per cent.
In 2019, a total of 2,873,312 items were posted internationally, but that number fell to 564,528 in 2021.
This trend is attributed to advancements in Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs), which have enhanced real-time message delivery capabilities, as well as the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Resilient postal operators have leveraged ICT and digital solutions to diversify their services. TCRA has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming postal services.
In his message for this year’s World Post Day on October 9th this year, Dr Bakari said that the authority will work to ensure digital advancements, platforms and automated systems streamline operations and improve accessibility within the postal sector.
Currently, TCRA has licensed 146 postal service providers, including TPC and various courier companies, which are categorised into six groups.
These categories include international courier services (6), East African courier services (2), domestic courier services (47), intracity courier services (16) and intercity transporters (74).
TCRA regularly engages with courier companies to discuss quality-of-service parameters, including scheduled delivery of items.
A recent survey of 19 companies revealed that only 37 per cent deliver items on time, with the companies recognised for timely delivery being Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Tanz Movers, Advanced Logistics, Delex Courier & Logistics Limited, Ellymo Company Limited and Segax.
Additionally, twelve companies failed to comply with the Electronic and Postal Communications Quality of Service (QoS) regulations.
QoS parameters for postal licensees include the speed of service, defined as the transit time from when a mail piece is posted and the postage is cancelled or recorded at the originating office to when the piece arrives at the destination or is delivered to the customer
