Editing Telecommunications in Tanzania

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'''Telecommunications in Tanzania''' include radio, television, fixed and Mobile phones which remain the most widely used communication devices in Tanzania, supported by an expanding mobile network infrastructure and affordable prepaid services. Internet service are available in mainland [[Tanzania|of the country]] and the semiautonomous [[Zanzibar|of Zanzibar archipelago]].

==Regulation and licensing==

In 2005, mainland Tanzania, but not the semiautonomous Zanzibar archipelago, modified its licensing system for electronic communications, modelling it on the approach successfully pioneered in [[Malaysia]] in the late 1990s where traditional "vertical" licenses (the right to operate a telecom or a broadcasting network, and right to provide services on that network) are replaced by "horizontal" licenses (the right to operate telecom and broadcasting networks, with a separate license required to provide services on each network). Called the "Converged Licensing Framework (CLF)", this reform was the first of its kind put into practice on the African continent, and allows investors to concentrate on their area of expertise (i.e. network facility, network services, application services, and content services) across a larger number of previously separate sectors (i.e. telecommunications, broadcasting, Internet). This reform should, among other things, facilitate the arrival of telephone services over cable television networks, television services over telecommunications networks, and Internet services over all types of networks.<ref name=TCRA-LicensingInfo>[http://www.tcra.go.tz/index.php/licensing/licensing-information "Licensing Information"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811031949/https://tcra.go.tz/index.php/licensing/licensing-information |date=2020-08-11 }}, Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority. Retrieved 23 January 2014.</ref>

Under the Converged Licensing Framework four categories of license are available:<ref name=TCRA-LicensingInfo/>
* Network facility, the provision of any element or combination of physical infrastructure used principally for, or in connection with, the provision of Content services and other Application services, but not including customer premises equipment;
* Network service, a service for carrying information in the form of speech or other sound, data, text or images, by means of guided or unguided electromagnetic energy, but not including services provided solely on the customer side of the network boundary;
* Application service, the reselling of electronic communication services to end users; and
* Content service, a service offered for sound, data, text or images whether still or moving except where transmitted on private communication.

At the end of 2013 there were:<ref name=TCRA-LicensedOperators/>
* 21 network facility operators: 8 international and national, 11 national, and 2 regional;
* 17 network service operators: 8 international and national, 6 national, and 3 regional;
* 91 application service operators: 1 international, 15 international and national, 62 national, 11 regional, and 2 district;
* 85 radio content service operators: 6 national + commercial, 10 regional + commercial, 7 regional + non-commercial, 30 district + commercial, and 29 district + non-commercial;
* 30 television content service operators: 5 national + commercial, 4 regional + commercial, 1 regional + non-commercial, 6 district + commercial, and 17 district + non-commercial.

A complete list of licensed operators and contractors is available from the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) website.<ref name=TCRA-LicensedOperators>[http://www.tcra.go.tz/index.php/licensing/licensed-operators/ "Licensed Operators and Contractors"], Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority.</ref>

==Radio and television==
* A state-owned national radio station and more than 40 privately owned radio stations are in operation (2007).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tanzania/ "Communications: Tanzania"], ''World Factbook'', U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 7 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.</ref>
* A state-owned TV station and multiple privately owned TV stations are in operation (2007).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* The transmissions of several international broadcasters are available (2007).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>

There are government restrictions on broadcasting in tribal languages.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Tanzania-2012/>

The semiautonomous Zanzibari government controls the content of all public and private radio and television broadcasts in its islands. Even in the case of state television broadcast from the mainland, there was a delay in the feed, allowing Zanzibari censors to intervene. However, Zanzibari radio stations operate relatively independently, often reading the content of national dailies, including articles critical of the Zanzibari government.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Tanzania-2012/>

==Telephones==
{{See also |Telephone numbers in Tanzania}}

* [[Calling code]]: +255<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* [[International call prefix]]: 000<ref>[http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164C-2011-PDF-E.pdf ''Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010))''], Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.</ref>
* Main lines: 161,100 lines in use, 133rd in the world (2011).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* Mobile cellular: 27.2 million lines, 39th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* Telephone system: telecommunications services are marginal; fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; [[Very Small Aperture Terminal]] (VSAT) system under construction; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing rapidly and in 2011 exceeded a subscriber base of 50 telephones per 100 persons; trunk service provided by open-wire, [[microwave radio relay]], [[tropospheric scatter]], and [[fiber-optic cable]]; some links being made digital (2010).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* [[List of international submarine communications cables|Communications cables]]: landing point for two fiber-optic cables (2010):
** [[SEACOM (African cable system)|SEACOM]] submarine and terrestrial high speed fibre-optic cable linking the countries of the east and west coasts of Africa to each other and on to Europe and India;<ref>[http://seacom.mu/network/ "SEACOM Network"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121201711/http://seacom.mu/network/ |date=2016-11-21 }}. Retrieved 23 January 2014.</ref> and 
** the [[EASSy]] fiber-optic submarine cable system linking [[East Africa]] with [[Europe]], and [[North America]].<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* [[Communications satellite|Satellite earth stations]]: 2 [[Intelsat]] (1 [[Indian Ocean]], 1 [[Atlantic Ocean]]) (2010).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>

;Mobile phone companies
Some of the mobile phone companies operating in Tanzania with market share as of December 2022 as published by the [[Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority]] are:<ref name=Statistics-report>[https://www.tcra.go.tz/uploads/text-editor/files/2nd%20Quarter%20Communications%20Statistics%20Report%202022-2023%20(1)_1675441316.pdf "COMMUNICATIONS STATISTICS REPORT : Quarter ending December 2022"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608084535/https://www.tcra.go.tz/uploads/text-editor/files/2nd%20Quarter%20Communications%20Statistics%20Report%202022-2023%20(1)_1675441316.pdf |date=2023-06-08 }}, [[Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority]]. Retrieved 01 August 2023.</ref>
* [[Vodacom Tanzania]] 30%
* [[Airtel Africa|Airtel Tanzania]] 28%
* [[MIC Tanzania Limited]] (Tigo Tanzania) formerly Mobitel 26%
* [[Viettel Tanzania|Viettel Tanzania Limited]] (Halotel) 13%
* [[Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited]] 3%
* [[Smile Communications Tanzania]] 0%

==Internet==
{{see also|Internet access in Tanzania}}
[[File:SEACOM Network Map.jpg|thumb|SEACOM-Network Map. Click on map to enlarge.]]

* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.tz]]<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]: 7.2 million users; 13.1% of the population, 182nd in the world (2016);<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2017/Individuals_Internet_2000-2016.xls |title=Archived copy |access-date=2017-07-24 |archive-date=2017-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721150842/http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2017/Individuals_Internet_2000-2016.xls |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 3,753 subscriptions, 164th in the world; less than 0.05% of the population, 187th in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: 698,531 subscriptions, 81st in the world; 1.5% of the population, 130th in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]: 26,074 hosts, 110th in the world (2012).<ref name=CIAWFB-Tanzania-2012/>
* [[IPv4]]: 846,152 addresses allocated as of 27 November 2014, 0.02 percent of the world total, 17.9 addresses per 1,000 people (based on the 2014 population estimate of 47.4 million).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.countryipblocks.net/allocation-of-ip-addresses-by-country.php|title=CIPB - Allocation of IP addresses by Country|website=www.countryipblocks.net|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbs.go.tz|title=National Bureau of Statistics {{!}} Statistics for Development|website=www.nbs.go.tz|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref>

Internet services have been available since 1995, but there was no international fiber connectivity available until 2009. Before then, connectivity to the rest of the world, including to neighboring countries, was obtained using satellite networks. The [[SEACOM (African cable system)|SEACOM]] and the [[EASSy (cable system)|Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System]] submarine fiber cable projects were implemented in July 2009 and July 2010, respectively, and brought higher speed Internet connectivity to Tanzania with lower latency and lower cost.<ref>[http://www.seacom.mu/knowledge-centre/faq SEACOM Knowledge Centre FAQ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423024429/http://seacom.mu/knowledge-centre/faq |date=2011-04-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.eassy.org/milestones.html| title = "EASSy Enters Commercial Service", EASSy, 5 August 2010, accessed 28 November 2014| access-date = 28 November 2014| archive-date = 1 August 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180801183132/http://www.eassy.org/milestones.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> This resulted in more than an eight-fold improvement in download speeds from between 90 and 200&nbsp;kbit/s in mid to late 2008 to between 1.5 and 1.8&nbsp;Mbit/s in late 2009 with further improvements to between 3.6 and 4.2&nbsp;Mbit/s in 2013.<ref>[http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=z8ii06k9csels2_#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=avg_download_speed&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=country&idim=country:TZ&ifdim=country&hl=en_US&dl=en_US&ind=false "Download speed graph for Tanzania, September 2008 to present"], Broadband Performance, Google Public Data Explorer. Retrieved 23 January 2014.</ref>

===Internet service providers===

Some of the [[Internet Service Providers]] operating in Tanzania are:<ref name=TCRA-LicensedOperators/>
* [http://www.greentelecom.co.tz Green Telecom]
* [http://www.flashnet.co.tz Flashnet]
* [https://www.faibafasta.co.tz CTV-Faibafasta]
* [http://www.simply.co.tz SIMPLYCONNECT]
* Afsat Communications Tanzania Limited
* Arusha Node Marie
* Benson Online
* [https://blink.co.tz/ BLINK BY GADGETRONIX]
* Cats-Net
* Maisha Broadband
* Kicheko
* Raha
* SimbaNet
* Tansat
* Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited] (TTCL)
* University of Dar es Salaam Computing Centre
* Vizocom
* ZanLink
* ComNet-TZ

===Data operators===

Some of the data operators in Tanzania are:<ref name=TCRA-LicensedOperators/>
* [http://www.greentelecom.co.tz Green Telecom]
* [http://www.flashnet.co.tz.co.tz Flashnet]
* Afsat Communications Tanzania Limited
* SatCom Networks Africa Limited
* SimbaNet
* Startel Tanzania Limited, also known as raha
* Tansat
* Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL).

===Censorship and surveillance===

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet; however, the government monitors websites that criticize the government. Police also monitor the Internet to combat illegal activities.<ref name="USDOS-CRHRP-Tanzania-2012">{{Cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204176|title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2017|website=www.state.gov|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref>

==Freedom of speech==

The constitution provides for [[freedom of speech]], but does not explicitly provide for [[freedom of the press]]. A permit is required for reporting on police or prison activities, and journalists need special permission to attend meetings in the Zanzibar House of Representatives. Anyone publishing information accusing a Zanzibari representative of involvement in illegal activities is liable to a fine of not less than [[Tanzanian shilling|TSh&nbsp;]]{{shilingi|250,000}} (US$158), three years' imprisonment, or both. Nothing in the law specifies whether this penalty stands if the allegation is proven true. Media outlets often practice [[self-censorship]] to avoid conflict with the government.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Tanzania-2012/>

The law generally prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence  without a search warrant, but the government does not consistently respect these prohibitions. It is widely believed that security forces monitor telephones and correspondence of some citizens and foreign residents. The actual nature and extent of this practice is unknown.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Tanzania-2012/>

Under the ''Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations 2018'', blogs, online forums, and internet radio and television operations, must register with the government as an online content provider, and pay an annual fee. The fee is roughly equivalent to the annual income in Tanzania.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tanzania: Bloggers to be charged $900 (average annual income) per year for right to speak|url=http://perilofafrica.com/tanzania-bloggers-to-be-charged-900-annual-average-income-per-year-for-right-to-speak/|access-date=25 April 2018|publisher=Peril of Africa|date=15 April 2018|archive-date=11 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911005116/http://perilofafrica.com/tanzania-bloggers-to-be-charged-900-annual-average-income-per-year-for-right-to-speak/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Online content providers may not post obscene or explicit content, hate speech, content that "causes annoyance", incites harm or crime, or threatens national security and public safety. Violators may be fined or have their licences revoked.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1248762/tanzania-social-media-and-blogging-regulations-charge-to-operate-online/|title=Tanzania social media and blogging regulations charge to operate online|last=Dahir|first=Abdi Latif|website=Quartz|date=10 April 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcra.go.tz/images/documents/regulations/SUPP_GN_NO_133_16_03_2018_EPOCA_ONLINE_CONTENT_REGULATIONS_2018.pdf|title=THE ELECTRONIC AND POSTAL COMMUNICATIONS (ONLINE CONTENT) REGULATIONS, 2018|access-date=April 24, 2018|archive-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624174824/https://www.tcra.go.tz/images/documents/regulations/SUPP_GN_NO_133_16_03_2018_EPOCA_ONLINE_CONTENT_REGULATIONS_2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority]]
* [[Tanzania Internet eXchange]]
* [[List of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa#Tanzania|Terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Tanzania]]
* [[Media of Tanzania]]
* [[List of newspapers in Tanzania]]

==References==

* {{CIA World Factbook |year=2014}}
* {{US DOS |year=2012}}
{{Reflist |32em}}

==Further reading==

*{{cite book|last=Suhail Sheriff|title=Rural Access: Options and Challenges for Connectivity and Energy in Tanzania|publisher=Sharing With Other People Network (SWOPnet)/[[International Institute for Communication and Development]] (IICD)|date=July 2007|pages=40|url=http://www.iicd.org/files/Rural-Connectivity-Tz-2007-Suhail-Sheriff.pdf}}
*{{cite book
|last=Suhail Sheriff
|title=Rural connectivity in Tanzania: Options and challenges
|publisher=[[International Institute for Communication and Development]] (IICD)
|date=March 2007
|pages=16
|url=http://www.iicd.org/files/Rural-Connectivity-Tz-2006.pdf
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tcra.go.tz/ Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority]
* [https://www.tcra.go.tz/images/documents/regulations/SUPP_GN_NO_133_16_03_2018_EPOCA_ONLINE_CONTENT_REGULATIONS_2018.pdf The Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2018] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624174824/https://www.tcra.go.tz/images/documents/regulations/SUPP_GN_NO_133_16_03_2018_EPOCA_ONLINE_CONTENT_REGULATIONS_2018.pdf |date=2019-06-24 }}
* [http://www.tznic.or.tz tzNIC], registry for the .tz domain

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{{Africa topic|Telecommunications in}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Internet censorship by country}}
{{Economy of Tanzania}}
{{Tanzania topics}}

[[Category:Telecommunications in Tanzania| ]]
[[Category:Internet in Tanzania]]