Tanzania bolsters access to affordable internet services as 47 percent of its people now use smartphones

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Angellah Kairuki, has highlighted the rapid growth of digital technology in Tanzania, saying 47 per cent of Tanzanians now use smartphones as the country moves to expand access to affordable and reliable internet services.

Ms Kairuki said the growing uptake of smartphones was an indication of the increasing demand for digital services, urging telecommunications companies to ensure that citizens could access and effectively use modern technologies.

She made the remarks in Dar es Salaam after visiting Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL)’s Faiba Integrated Service Centre in Kijitonyama, where she reviewed the company’s progress in expanding fibre-optic connectivity and introducing new digital services.

The minister’s remarks come as TTCL steps up investment in its fibre network, with the company planning to install an additional 400,000 fibre connections during the 2026/27 financial year.

The expansion is expected to push TTCL’s total fibre connections to about 750,000 by June 2027, from approximately 330,000 connections already established.

Ms Kairuki said the expansion of digital infrastructure was critical to Tanzania’s economic transformation, particularly as businesses, households, schools and government institutions increasingly rely on digital services.

“Currently, 47 per cent of Tanzanians use smartphones, but we want to increase this significantly by supporting access to affordable digital devices,” she said.

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She also commended TTCL for the progress it had made in rolling out Fibre to the Home (FTTH) services, noting that the first phase had attracted a significant number of customers.

“The first phase of FTTH went very well, attracting many customers, and we have now launched the second phase to reach even more users,” Ms Kairuki said.

TTCL Managing Director Moremi Marwa said the company currently serves about 115,000 customers through its fibre internet services, adding that the planned expansion would significantly increase its capacity to accommodate more users.

“Our network already serves about 115,000 customers, and with new technology, we can efficiently handle more simultaneous users,” Mr Marwa said.

The company has also introduced the Triple Hub service, which allows customers to share a single data package across multiple devices, including smartphones, laptops and landlines.

According to TTCL, the service can also enable family members to share connectivity while living in different parts of the country, including Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Mbeya.

Ms Kairuki said the government had continued to invest in communications infrastructure and urged TTCL to ensure that such investments delivered tangible benefits to citizens.

She specifically cited technologies such as Xpon and GPON, saying they should support the delivery of high-quality, affordable and fast internet services to Tanzanian households and businesses.

“The government has invested heavily in communications infrastructure such as Xpon and GPON. TTCL must ensure these investments deliver high-quality, affordable and fast internet services to Tanzanian households and businesses,” she said.

The expansion of TTCL’s fibre network comes amid growing demand for broadband connectivity as Tanzania accelerates its digital transformation.

For businesses, improved connectivity is expected to support online transactions, digital communication and other technology-driven operations, while households and institutions stand to benefit from faster access to online education, government services and other digital platforms.

With 400,000 additional fibre connections planned for the 2026/27 financial year, TTCL is seeking to strengthen its position in Tanzania’s expanding broadband market and widen access to high-speed internet services.