By Tom Mwangi, Africa editor
Nairobi, Kenya (Somalistandard) – Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan has criticized the state owned Tanzania Telecommunications Company (TTCL) for competing with other telcos in the mobile telecoms business.
In a speech delivered in the capital city of Dar es Salaam on Monday, she urged TTCL to focus on broadband services, saying that the company had failed to perform effectively in the mobile telecoms space.
TTCL has just a 3% share of the Tanzanian market, which has a total of 60.2 million subscribers.
It faces stiff competition from Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, and Halotel. The president called for a review of TTCL’s operations to determine whether it should continue to offer mobile telecoms services.
The move to refocus TTCL on broadband services is in line with the Tanzanian government’s plans to increase access to the internet in the country, particularly in rural areas.
According to the World Bank, just 13% of Tanzanians had access to the internet in 2019.
President Samia has also directed the TCRA to review the licensing regime for telecoms companies in the country. She said that the licensing process should be reviewed to make it easier for companies to enter the market and increase competition.
The move to improve the telecoms sector in Tanzania is part of the government’s broader plans to boost economic growth and development in the country.
Tanzania has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, but it still faces challenges such as poverty and a lack of infrastructure.
The telecoms sector has been growing rapidly in recent years, with mobile phone penetration reaching 85% of the population in 2019, according to the TCRA. However, the sector has also faced challenges such as high taxes and regulatory issues.
President Samia’s directive to refocus TTCL on broadband services is seen as a positive move for the company and the telecoms sector in general.
It is expected to help improve the quality of broadband services in Tanzania and increase access to the internet for more people in the country.
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