Tanzania records 116.9m users of mobile phone lines by June 2026

DAR ES SALAAM: THE number of mobile phone lines in Tanzania reached 116.9 million by June 2026, representing a 4.51 per cent increase from more than 111.9 million lines recorded in March this year.

Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Angellah Kairuki, said the increase reflects continued growth in the use of communication services, including voice calls, internet and short message services (SMS).

Kairuki gave the figures today, August 10, 2026, while presenting the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) Fourth Quarter Performance Report for the 2025/26 financial year.

She said the number of mobile phone lines had risen to 116.9 million by June 2026, up from more than 111.9 million recorded in March.

According to the minister, the increase demonstrates a continued upward trend in the use of various communication services, particularly voice calls, internet and SMS.

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Kairuki explained that the number of mobile phone lines exceeding the country’s population does not mean that every Tanzanian owns a mobile line. Rather, some users have more than one line for different purposes.

She said the trend reflects changing patterns in the use of communication services, with consumers owning multiple lines depending on their needs, including internet access, business and other communication services.

The minister said the government would continue to strengthen and regulate the communications sector to ensure that the growing use of such services is matched by the availability of quality and secure communication services for citizens.