Tanzania's Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Hon. Nape Nnauye, has announced plans to transform Tanzania into a digital economy in the next financial year and beyond. The move is part of the country's National Digital Economy
Framework, which seeks to digitize all sectors of the economy, including government services, payments, work, study, innovation, shopping, socializing, and e-services.
The government's goal is to create an inclusive digital society that promotes sustainable development and reduces the digital divide. With a 91% penetration rate and 54 million mobile telephone users, Tanzania has one of the most liberalized telecom sectors in Africa. The government is encouraging foreign investment in the sector to further promote economic growth and social development.
To support this transformation, the government has passed the National Data Protection Law, creating a favorable environment for digital payment platforms and mobile money platforms. The restoration of publishing licenses and the issuance of new licenses to newspapers has also been positively received by the media fraternity, promoting press freedom in the country.
Furthermore, internet usage in Tanzania has been growing at an average of 11% annually since 2020, with a 31.1% penetration rate. The government is also investing in high-speed internet services and has installed them at Mount Kilimanjaro, with the goal of bringing connectivity to the summit by the end of the year.
Hon. Nape Nnauye has also led the 6th government's initiative to return as members to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and African Telecommunication Union (ATU) councils for the next three years. Tanzania's experience in the communications sector can be valuable to the international community as a tool for social and economic development.
The National ICT Broadband Backbone Network (NICTBB) has contributed to the government's investment in thousands of kilometers of fiber optic cables, connecting land-locked countries through multiple connections to the border points of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Zambia, and Malawi. Hon. Nape Nnauye has also signed a contract to collaborate with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in ICT, including connecting each other's infrastructure, during the DRC ICT Investment Forum.
Tanzania's Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Hon. Nape Nnauye, has demonstrated the country's ability to rapidly achieve a digital economy through his leadership. The telecom industry has played a crucial role in creating new economic opportunities, and the government is committed to continuing this trend of digitalization to enhance the lives of its citizens. With the ambitious goal of becoming a digital economy, Tanzania has the potential to emerge as a leading player in the digital economy across Africa, positioning itself as a hub for innovation and technological advancement.
About Us: The Tanzania Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology is responsible for policy formulation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of information, communication, and technology services. It is committed to making Tanzania a digital economy, and Hon. Nape Nnauye is spearheading this transformation.
