The
government is set to expand Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) infrastructure capacity by improving access to the national and
regional broadband.
Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) Chief Executive Officer Dr Kamugisha Kazaura said in Dar es Salaam this week that the plan will increase the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) capacity covering 7500km by four times to improve connectivity and accessibility.
Launched in 2012, NICTBB project has connected all local government authorities (districts and regions) across the country and neighbouring countries.
Kazaura was speaking at the launch of the 4th Generation Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) internet service, a first step towards adopting a regional network convergence for a vast internet infrastructure and reliable connectivity.
“We want to increase the capacity of NICTBB by four times to meet the demand,” he said.
TTCL, a state-owned firm, is the oldest communication operator in the country, having invested massively in data as it seeks to emulate the footsteps of other local mobile service providers, Tigo, Vodacom and Airtel.
The new (4G LTE) will give it the opportunity to tap into more than 34 million mobile subscribers in the country, with only 16 per cent of internet penetration, according to the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) reports.
TTCL Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Peter Ngota, said the firm was eyeing to attain at least 5 per cent of the subscriber base during the first phase of the 4G project.
He said the country’s internet penetration was below the ITU recommendation of 45 per cent, thereby requiring an increase in internet connections.
“We want the strongest technology to be able to increase internet penetration,” he stressed.
According to experts, a 10 per cent internet penetration accounts for at least 2 per cent of the total gross domestic product (GDP).
At least $170mn being a Chinese concessional loan was provided for the construction of the NICTBB project, an additional $100mn was expected to be fetched from NICTBB operational revenues, with the government providing Sh30bn.
The immediate communication minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa said private sectors were also expected to contribute $80mn for the project.
Meanwhile the local telecom firm working with the Tanzania’s Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) vowed to ensure all rural communities have access to telecommunication.
UCSAF has thus invested approximately Sh74billion in rural telecom improvement aimed at connecting 3.1million residents.
Dr Kazaura said a plan for the purpose was progressing very well, having connected over 165 wards with telecommunications services, with another 35 in progress.
Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) Chief Executive Officer Dr Kamugisha Kazaura said in Dar es Salaam this week that the plan will increase the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) capacity covering 7500km by four times to improve connectivity and accessibility.
Launched in 2012, NICTBB project has connected all local government authorities (districts and regions) across the country and neighbouring countries.
Kazaura was speaking at the launch of the 4th Generation Long-Term Evolution (4G LTE) internet service, a first step towards adopting a regional network convergence for a vast internet infrastructure and reliable connectivity.
“We want to increase the capacity of NICTBB by four times to meet the demand,” he said.
TTCL, a state-owned firm, is the oldest communication operator in the country, having invested massively in data as it seeks to emulate the footsteps of other local mobile service providers, Tigo, Vodacom and Airtel.
The new (4G LTE) will give it the opportunity to tap into more than 34 million mobile subscribers in the country, with only 16 per cent of internet penetration, according to the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) reports.
TTCL Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Peter Ngota, said the firm was eyeing to attain at least 5 per cent of the subscriber base during the first phase of the 4G project.
He said the country’s internet penetration was below the ITU recommendation of 45 per cent, thereby requiring an increase in internet connections.
“We want the strongest technology to be able to increase internet penetration,” he stressed.
According to experts, a 10 per cent internet penetration accounts for at least 2 per cent of the total gross domestic product (GDP).
At least $170mn being a Chinese concessional loan was provided for the construction of the NICTBB project, an additional $100mn was expected to be fetched from NICTBB operational revenues, with the government providing Sh30bn.
The immediate communication minister Prof. Makame Mbarawa said private sectors were also expected to contribute $80mn for the project.
Meanwhile the local telecom firm working with the Tanzania’s Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) vowed to ensure all rural communities have access to telecommunication.
UCSAF has thus invested approximately Sh74billion in rural telecom improvement aimed at connecting 3.1million residents.
Dr Kazaura said a plan for the purpose was progressing very well, having connected over 165 wards with telecommunications services, with another 35 in progress.
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