DAR ES SALAAM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has recorded significant growth in communication service access, driven by continuous infrastructure investment and supportive policies, a senior official said Thursday.
Minister for Information, Communications and Information Technology Angellah Kairuki made the remarks in the capital, Dodoma, while presenting her ministry's budget proposals for the 2026/2027 financial year.
Kairuki said the number of registered mobile phone lines jumped 23.8 percent to 111.9 million in March 2026, up from 90.4 million in the same month last year. Internet users also rose by 19.5 percent, from 49.3 million to 58.9 million during the period.
She added that users of mobile money services grew by 21.8 percent, reaching 81 million in March 2026, up from 66.5 million a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the number of communications infrastructure service providers increased by 36.8 percent to 52, while providers of application and value-added services rose by 27.2 percent to 173, she said.
"These statistics reflect improved access to ICT services, supported by an enabling policy environment and continued investment in infrastructure," Kairuki said.
She attributed the progress to government initiatives, including the expansion of the National ICT Broadband Backbone and the construction of telecommunications towers, which have extended services to 688 wards and benefited about 8.5 million people.
According to the minister, the rollout of broadband infrastructure to 86 districts has further enhanced service delivery and connectivity. The national addressing system has improved location identification, helping extend communication services to previously underserved areas. ■
