Tanzania’s communication sector is experiencing a significant boom as it approaches 100 per cent penetration. According to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the overall penetration rate is currently at 98 per cent, which is close to saturation point. The report also indicates that Dar es Salaam is leading other regions with 18 per cent of all active subscriptions, followed by Mwanza and Arusha with 6.4 per cent and 6.0 per cent, respectively.
TCRA Director General DrJabiriBakari commented on the report, stating that the development is a testament to the positive strides made by the telecom industry in expanding access to communication services throughout the country. The regulator is optimistic that the trend will continue as more people embrace the use of mobile phones for communication and other services.
Despite this growth, telecom penetration has almost reached its maximum potential, with numbers hovering around 98 per cent in 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. The year-on-year statistics show a gradual increase in telecom penetration, with rates of 88 per cent in 2019, 89 per cent in 2020, and 91 per cent in 2021.
Tanzania’s growth in the telecom sector is not unique to the country, as the trend of telecom subscriptions in East Africa and Africa has been marked by steady growth over the past five years. More and more people are gaining access to mobile phones and other telecommunication devices, leading to a rise in the number of subscriptions.
In East Africa, Tanzania is one of the countries with the highest number of mobile phone subscribers, along with Kenya and Uganda. These countries have seen significant investment in their telecoms infrastructure in recent years, leading to improved connectivity and increased access to mobile phones and other communication devices for their citizens.
It is worth noting that Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa lead in telecom subscriptions in Africa, accounting for over half of all mobile phone subscriptions on the continent.
The positive growth in Tanzania’s communication sector is a testament to the country’s efforts to expand access to communication services, which has resulted in more people being able to communicate and access other services through their mobile phones. The steady growth is also a positive sign for the country’s economy, as the communication sector is a key driver of economic growth in Tanzania and the rest of Africa.
