Tanzania’s digital growth hits record high

DODOMA: TANZANIA’S communication sector has recorded significant progress during the 2021–2025 period under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, marked by expanded access to communication services, a surge in internet subscriptions and a notable increase in internet penetration.

The sector has also witnessed significant growth in mobile financial service accounts and continued improvement in mobile communication services nationwide.

For instance, key infrastructure developments have also been realized, including an increase in submarine cables, expansion of data centres, demonstrating the country’s steady progress in building a resilient digital ecosystem and enhancing access to affordable, reliable, and technology-driven services for its citizens.

This was said yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Mohammed Khamis Abdullah, during the launch of 758 communication towers, the connection of the National Fibre Optic Backbone to 85 districts, and the official handover of the communication backbone infrastructure to the government.

ALSO READ: Samia accelerate digital growth

Mr Abdullah said the sector has experienced transformative growth since 2021, significantly improving connectivity, digital access, and service delivery across the country.

He noted that access to communication services has expanded across all major technologies, supported by key infrastructure developments including an increase in submarine cables and the expansion of data centres demonstrating steady progress in building a resilient digital ecosystem and enhancing access to affordable and reliable technology-driven services.

According to him, coverage of 2G services increased from 96.1 per cent in 2021 to 98.6 per cent by December 2025, ensuring near-universal access to basic communication services.

Third-generation (3G) coverage rose from 70.3 per cent to 93.92 per cent, while 4G coverage increased significantly from 50.4 per cent to 94.2 per cent, reflecting rapid expansion of high-speed internet services.

Fifth-generation (5G) technology, which was not available in 2021, has now reached 30.15 per cent coverage by the end of 2025. Geographical coverage has also improved, with 2G expanding from 74.6 per cent to 79.5 per cent, 3G from 51 per cent to 77 per cent, and 4G from 34.3 per cent to 77.3 per cent, while 5G services have extended to 30.3 per cent of the country.

Mr Abdullah further said the government, in collaboration with service providers, is working towards achieving 100 per cent national communication coverage by 2030, ensuring no area remains unconnected. He added that the number of internet users has doubled from 29.07 million in 2021 to 58.8 million in 2025, while internet penetration has risen from 48.9 per cent to 85.3 per cent.

He further noted that the growth reflects improved infrastructure and increased adoption of digital services, supporting innovation, e-commerce, and e-government initiatives.

Also, Mobile financial service accounts also grew significantly, rising from 32.7 million to 76.4 million, an increase of 134 per cent, highlighting stronger financial inclusion and expanded participation in the digital economy.

On infrastructure, Mr Abdullah said the number of submarine cables increased from two to three, enhancing international connectivity.

Districts connected to the national fibre backbone rose from 36 in 2021 to 122 by December 2025, marking a 239 per cent increase. The total length of the national fibre optic network expanded from 8,319 kilometres to 15,167 kilometres, while network capacity increased tenfold from 200 Gbps to 2,000 Gbps. The number of data centres also rose from three to four, boosting data storage and processing capacity within the country.

He further said the establishment of a national communications equipment testing laboratory, operational since 2024, as a key milestone in ensuring quality and standards in the sector.

Communication costs have also declined, with off-bundle call charges dropping from an average of 63/- per minute to 29/-, while bundled call costs fell from 10/- to 6.6/- per minute, making services more affordable to citizens.

Additionally, the number of registered residential addresses increased dramatically from 12,800 in 2021 to 350,000 in 2025, reflecting improved national addressing systems and service accessibility.

On her part, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Ms Angellah Kairuki said that the communication sector plays a uniquely strategic role as an enabler of other sectors, supporting the delivery of essential services such as healthcare, agriculture, education, social services, trade, finance, tourism, and more.

She said that in ensuring Tanzania continues to make progress in ICT development, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has continued to oversee the implementation of the National ICT Policy as well as the Postal Policy.

Speaking on the 758 communication towers handed over, Ms Kairuki said the milestone marks a significant step forward in expanding connectivity and strengthening Tanzania’s digital infrastructure.