Tanzania’s communication sector records impressive boom with 98% penetration

Tanzania’s communication sector has recorded a significant growth as it approaches the saturation point of 100% penetration, according to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

Telecom penetration has almost reached its maximum potential, with numbers hovering around 98% in 2022 and the first quarter of 2023, the TCRA has said in its latest report, adding that Dar es Salaam is leading with 18% of all active subscriptions, followed by Mwanza and Arusha with 6.4% and 6.0%, respectively. TCRA Director General Jabiri Kuwe Bakari 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.

Tanzania’s growth in the telecom sector is not unique to the country, as the trend of telecom subscriptions in East Africa and Africa at large has been marked by steady growth since 2018. 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.