Tanzanian telecom operators will soon be able to conduct 5G mobile network trials. The Minister for Information, Communications, And Information Technology, Nape Nnauye, announced that the doors are now open for investors willing and able to invest in 5G, the ultrafast broadband.
The Minister invited investors who wished to invest in 5G technology to submit their applications. However, he also said that the government, through Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), was ready to offer spectrum to service providers who were ready for 5G trials.
In the past two years, Tanzania has seen an increase in demand for broadband connectivity, in part due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the digital transformation needs of people and governments. Operators need more capacity to meet the growing demand for broadband connectivity. Vodacom started discussions with the telecom regulator in 2020 regarding ultrafast broadband investments.
Tanzanian telecom operators have received the government's initiative as a way to boost the country's digital economy. In addition to meeting the demand for more digital services, 5G should enable them to support new consumption patterns such as smart homes and buildings, 3D video, streaming, teleworking, cloud gaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality. For the government, it should help achieve its goal of "covering 80% of Tanzanians with fast Internet by 2025" and accelerate e-government.
