By Carlos Claudio, Dar es Salaam.
More Tanzanians, particularly those living in underserved and rural areas, are set to benefit from improved access to reliable mobile and internet services following the construction of 758 new telecommunications towers under the Digital Tanzania Project (DTP).
The project has also upgraded 304 existing telecommunications towers from 2G to 3G and 4G, expanding network coverage in areas that previously experienced unreliable communication services.
The development is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen Tanzania’s digital infrastructure, expand internet access and improve the delivery of public services through technology.
The achievements were announced on Monday, September 14, 2026, during a stakeholders’ meeting on the Digital Tanzania Project, which is scheduled to officially conclude on October 31, 2026.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the meeting, Director of Information and Communication Technology in the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance, Priscus Kiwango, said the project had made significant progress in expanding digital infrastructure across the country.
Mr Kiwango said the construction and upgrading of telecommunications infrastructure had particularly benefited rural communities that previously faced challenges accessing reliable communication services.
He said residents in areas covered by the project could now access improved 3G and 4G services, while government institutions, including those at the local government level, had been connected to various digital systems.
The project has also supported the government’s efforts to shift more public services online, a move expected to reduce the time and costs citizens incur travelling to different government offices to access services.
Among the systems supported is the Public Employees Performance Management Information System (PEPMIS), which is used to assess and monitor the performance of public servants.
The project has also supported a government services information system that enables citizens to obtain information on available government services, where they can access them, the time required to receive the services and applicable charges.
Digital Tanzania Project Coordinator Bakari Mwamgugu said the project had been implemented through three major areas: strengthening the digital ecosystem, expanding connectivity and developing the skills of public servants.
According to Mr Mwamgugu, Tanzania’s internet capacity had been increased by 60 gigabits per second (Gbps), with 40Gbps allocated to Mainland Tanzania and 20Gbps to Zanzibar.
He said the additional capacity had helped reduce internet costs for public institutions while improving their ability to deliver government services digitally.
The project has also established 32 One-Stop Service Centres in post office buildings, allowing citizens to access services from institutions including the National Identification Authority (NIDA), Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), the Police Force and the Land Registry under one roof.
The initiative is expected to reduce the need for citizens to travel between different government offices when seeking related services.
Mr Mwamgugu further said about 500 public servants had been trained in modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, while 50 others had received sponsorship for postgraduate studies in countries including India, Singapore, China, Estonia, Finland and Malaysia.
In Zanzibar, the project has supported the establishment of the Zanzibar Government Services Directory (ZGSD) and ZanPortal, as well as two One-Stop Service Centres located at Posta Kijangwani in Unguja and Chakechake in Pemba.
Director of Communications and Infrastructure at Zanzibar’s Ministry of Information, Communication and Innovation, Issa Bakari, said more than 90 percent of Zanzibar’s population could now access mobile communication services ranging from 2G to 5G.
He said 63 telecommunications towers had been constructed in Zanzibar under the Digital Tanzania Project.
With the first phase of the project nearing completion, Mr Bakari said the government had begun discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the World Bank on the possibility of implementing a second phase.
He said the proposed second phase would focus on completing unfinished areas and extending digital infrastructure to communities that remain underserved.
The expansion of telecommunications infrastructure is expected to strengthen Tanzania’s digital economy while improving access to information, online government services, education, business opportunities and other digital services, particularly for citizens living outside major urban centres.
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