Telecom penetration in Tanzania closes to 100 percent

Dar es Salaam. The communication sector in Tanzania is booming as the country approaches the 100 percent penetration mark, a latest report shows.
According to the Quarter Report released by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), covering January-March 2023, Dar es Salaam leads the pack with 18 percent of all active subscriptions, followed by Mwanza and Arusha with 6.4 percent and 6.0 percent, respectively.
Mbeya and Dodoma also feature prominently in the top ranking regions, with 5.8 percent and 5.2 percent of all active subscribers, respectively. According to the just-released performance report, the overall penetration is currently at 98 percent, which is close to the saturation point.
The report also shows that Dar es Salaam has the highest penetration rate compared to all regions at 17.71 percent, followed by Mwanza and Arusha with 6.2 percent and 6.01 percent, respectively. Katavi, Rukwa, Lindi, and Njombe are the regions with the lowest penetration rates in Tanzania mainland.
TCRA Director General Dr Jabiri Bakari, commenting on the report, said: "the development is a testament to the positive strides made by (our) telecom industry in expanding access to communication services throughout the country.”
The communications regulator indicated that the trend is expected to continue as more people embrace the use of mobile phones for communication and other services.
According to TCRA’s data, the telecom industry has experienced steady growth over the past five years, with an average increase of 8 percent per annum in subscriptions. Despite this growth, telecom penetration has almost reached its maximum potential, with numbers hovering around 98 percent in 2022 and the first quarter of 2023.
The year-on-year statistics show a gradual increase in telecom penetration, with rates of 88 percent in 2019, 89 percent in 2020, and 91 percent in 2021.
The trend of telecom subscriptions in East Africa and Africa over the past five years has been marked by steady growth as more people gain access to mobile phones and other telecommunication devices. According to data from the International Telecommunications Union, the number of mobile phone subscriptions in Africa grew from 420 million in 2015 to 477 million in 2019, representing an average annual growth rate of 3.3 percent.
The countries that lead in terms of telecom subscriptions in Africa are Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, which together account for over half of all mobile phone subscriptions on the continent.
In East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are the countries with the highest number of mobile phone subscribers.
 These countries have seen significant investment in their telecom infrastructure in recent years, leading to improved connectivity and increased access to mobile phones and other communication devices for their citizens.