The sector remains critical to the development of all aspects of the economy and will continue to see demand increasing. According to Analysis Mason, the internationally recognised authority on telecoms, in emerging markets the sector will continue to benefit from growing mobile penetration and rising GDP per capital that will increase service spending.

The telecommunications services which were inadequate in Tanzania for a long period has now become a fast growing sector

Growth in Tanzania’s mobile market has rebounded impressively in 2014 following a contraction in 2013, prompted by the discounting of inactive SIMs and slow expansion of networks to rural areas. We believe renewed growth has been triggered by increased investment in network expansion done by various mobile companies.

Tanzanian government has also been supporting the telecommunication service by providing an operating environment.

Over the years, Tigo has led the way in transforming mobile operators from service providers to also being service innovators. The nation’s first wireless telecoms company continues to open up innovative ways to empower their subscribers with end-to-end digital lifestyle solutions that have shepherd transformation in consumer revenue streams, business models and value chains, urban or rural areas.

All this innovations are also contributed by the reform of Telecommunications Sector Tanzania adopted in 1994 assisted by the World Bank.

The Tanzanian government’s telecommunication policy was the development of an adept telecommunication network to provide an info communications infrastructure and easy access to the telecoms service for all the citizens of the country. So the government had started the telecommunications sector reform as a part of their economic reform programme.

In serving the community, Tigo recently launched a new site at Magubike village in Iringa region opening up the area to new social and economic opportunities.

The site which is built in collaboration with the government through the Universal Communication Services Access Fund (UCSAF) programme has seen a saviour to the communities whom for the long time have been waiting for the network to come.

The new site is part of 843 sites planned to be built countrywide by the company this year of which, 348 will be in the southern regions of Iringa, Ruvuma, Njombe, Mbeya and Rukwa, according to Tigo Interim General Manager Cecile Tiano.

UCSAF programme aims at fostering social and economic development in rural and urban areas through ICT intervention by ensuring the availability of communication services in rural and urban undeserved areas.

Inaugurating the new site in Magubike-Iringa, the Regional Commissioner Amina Masenza, welcomed the company’s investment saying it will help to unlock social and economic potentials in the region.

Masenza said: “I would like to take this opportunity to confirm to investors in the communication sector, that the government will continue to partner with them and other development stakeholders by providing enabling business environments for the sole purpose of improving the communication sector in the country”.

Tiano said the company has been investing an average of USD 2m/- a week in network expansion and service quality improvement countrywide over the past two years in the quest to promote digital lifestyle.

Explaining the importance of telecommunication services to the area residents, the general manager cited Tigo Kilimo, as one of the services that they would enjoy eseciallly in improving their agricultural activities through ‘Tigo Kilimo’.

Tiano said “Tigo Kilimo service has gone through a round of regional pilots and surveys with moderate success, the goal being to deploy it over the entire country” adding that the results in the pilot show that one farmer can request ten to 15 times per week.

The manager noted that Tigo Kilimo programme initiative will provide information of market and price to farmers who are over 60 percent conducting their activities in villages where more information on weather, market, price and transport is needed to enable them to do well in the sector.

He said that any information of Tigo kilimo to farmers through their mobile phones on market, price, weather, will be coming from recognised ministries and government sectors while will help to sweep away middle people who tend to con farmers on their products especially on prices.

He affirmed that the programme is working closely with the ministry of agriculture and ministry of Trade to give correct information needed by farmers as he noted that farmers are lagging behind in development because of lack of adequate information.

The service gives farmers useful information on commodity prices, weather forecast and availability of inputs through their phones. One can also benefit economically by becoming a Tigo Pesa agent.

He said Tigo also plans to increase its customer service outlets in the five regions, create more job opportunities to the youth by recruiting them as freelancers while providing funding and other forms of support to community development initiatives through its corporate responsibility programme.

Tigo has created a solution to transfer money in the country especially in villages, and through the company’s continued commitment of investment, network expansion and quality, the company believe that rural areas will be reached by getting sustainable service which has significant socio-economic impact to villagers and Tanzanians as whole.

Tigo Tanzania is one of the leading innovative telecommunication company in the country, distinguished as a fully-fledged digital lifestyle brand.
Offering a diverse product portfolio in voice, SMS, high-speed internet and mobile financial services, Tigo has pioneered innovations such as Facebook in Kiswahili, Tigo Pesa App for Android & IOS users, and East Africa’s first cross-border mobile money transfer with currency conversion.

The Tigo 3G network guarantees the best services to its subscriber’s in all regions across the country.  Between 2013 and 2014 alone the company launched over 500 new network sites and plans to double its investment by 2017 in terms of coverage and additional capacity networks for deeper penetration in rural areas.

With over eight million registered subscribers to its network, Tigo directly and indirectly employs over 100,000 Tanzanians including an extended network of customer service representatives, mobile money merchants, sales agents and distributors.

Tigo has been contributing not only funds, but also helping implement various developmental programmes and supports the social entrepreneurs with technology and expertise.

Source: SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN