Two deals signed as Tanzania eyes digital economy
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has witnessed the signing of two contracts worth 275.5bn/- for the implementation of projects geared to ensure the availability of communication services in rural and urban under-served areas.
The deals signed in the capital city involved the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) and telecom companies.
A statement released by the Director of Presidential Communications, Zuhura Yunus says the two projects are construction of 758 towers in 713 districts and boosting capacity of 304 communication towers.
Speaking during the signing ceremony held at the Jakaya Kikwete Convention Center in Dodoma on Saturday, May 13, 2023, President Samia said a total of 60.7bn/- is a loan from the World Bank while 70.16bn/- has been generated through levy on mobile money transactions.
The Head of State said the implementation of the project is an important step 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 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 the projects insisting that they shouldn’t go beyond one month.
Quoting the 2022 2022 Population and Housing Census, the President said telephone audibility in rural areas has increased to 97 per cent compared to 45 per cent in 2009.
Speaking earlier, Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology Mr Nape Nnauye said a total of 758 towers, in 26 regions of Tanzania Mainland are expected to be constructed.
At the well-attended event, representatives from various public institutions, including a delegation of Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN) Ltd led by Managing Director Tuma Abdallah, were present.
