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Tanzania’s telecom, postal, broadcasting sectors post steady Q2 growth
TCRA Director General, Dr Jabir Bakari
What you need to know:
- Internet subscriptions rose by 9.6 percent, while data usage volumes climbed by 14.7 percent, largely driven by the expansion of 4G and 5G broadband infrastructure nationwide.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s communications sector maintained a steady performance in the second quarter of 2025, with consistent growth recorded across its three core segments: telecommunications, postal and courier services, and broadcasting.
A quarterly report released by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for the April–June period indicates sectoral stability compared to the previous quarter ending March 2025, with each subsector registering notable developments in service uptake, infrastructure, and market competitiveness.
In the telecommunications and internet services subsector, the market saw increases in subscriptions, network traffic, and coverage.
Internet subscriptions rose by 9.6 percent, while data usage volumes climbed by 14.7 percent, largely driven by the expansion of 4G and 5G broadband infrastructure nationwide.
Despite rising usage, the report noted that tariffs for voice, data, and SMS services remained stable.
The market remained competitive, with the top three mobile network operators (MNOs) collectively holding 82.6 percent of subscriptions, none exceeding the 35 percent dominance threshold.
“The broadcasting subsector remained dynamic, with active decoder usage holding steady,” reads part of the report signed by TCRA Director General, Dr Jabir Bakari.
A notable shift in consumer preferences was observed, with increased uptake of Direct-to-Home (DTH) television services, benefiting from 100 percent national coverage, while subscriptions to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) declined, constrained by 33 percent geographic reach and 58 percent population coverage.
The period also saw the registration of 32 new licensees, reflecting a five percent increase and bringing the total number of licensed entities to 681.
The growing interest in online television platforms, bloggers, and cable service providers underscores the sector’s ongoing digital evolution.
In the postal and courier services subsector, the Tanzania Posts Corporation and other operators continued to play a critical role in handling letters, parcels, documents, and cargo.
These services are increasingly vital in supporting e-commerce and the expanding digital economy.
Operational efficiency is expected to improve following the 2024 amendment of the Electronic and Postal Communication (Postal) Regulations, which lifted geographical restrictions and allowed providers to expand services to previously limited areas.
The second-quarter results reaffirm the communications sector’s solid foundation and its crucial role in supporting Tanzania’s digital transformation agenda.
“Through infrastructure expansion, evolving consumer behaviour, and updated regulatory frameworks, the sector is positioning itself to meet rising national demand and support inclusive economic growth,” the report concludes.
