Internet subscriptions in Tanzania rise by almost 45% in five years

Daba Finance/Internet subscriptions in Tanzania have surged by nearly 45%

BREAKING NEWSNovember 10, 2023 at 11:43 AM UTC

TLDR

Tanzania has seen a significant increase in internet subscriptions, with a growth rate of nearly 45% over the past five years.
The expansion of online content in the native Kiswahili language is attributed to this surge in subscriptions.
There has been a controversial move by the regulator, TCRA, imposing restrictions on the use of VPNs for accessing online content, leading to public dissatisfaction and scrutiny.

Over the past five years, internet subscriptions in Tanzania have surged by nearly 45%, a trend attributed by the regulating agency to the expanding availability of online content in the native Kiswahili language. The latest statistical update from the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) reveals a consistent growth in subscriptions, rising from 23.81 million in 2018 to 34.47 million by September 2023, with an average annual rate of 7.8%.

Specifically, data for the three months spanning from July 1 to September 30 this year demonstrates a remarkable 287.8% increase in fixed wireless internet subscriptions, soaring from 7,496 to 21,574. In contrast, mobile internet subscriptions experienced a more modest growth of 1.3%, climbing from 33.96 million to 34.39 million.

However, the release of TCRA's October report coincided with growing public dissatisfaction following a controversial move by the regulator the previous month. This move involved imposing restrictions on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access online content, sparking increased public scrutiny and criticism.

Key Takeaways

Over the past eight years, internet connectivity in Africa has doubled, reaching 28%, thanks to expanded broadband coverage and increased smartphone penetration. Despite this growth, the 2021 State of Mobile Internet in Africa report by GSMA, a global umbrella organization for mobile operators, indicates that over half a billion people (53%) in areas with mobile broadband networks still lack internet access due to the high cost of data. Promisingly, major technology players such as Google and Meta are making substantial investments in infrastructure to provide affordable and high-speed internet in Africa. This development is expected to address the connectivity gap and contribute to changing the landscape. The combination of more accessible internet and the rising adoption of smartphones, projected to increase from 64% to 75% this year, is poised to have a significant impact on Africa's digital economy. Currently valued at $115 billion, the digital economy is anticipated to grow sixfold by 2050, positively influencing various sectors of the overall economy.

Internet access

Tanzania

Smartphone penetration

Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority