Mariam Said
Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA’S digital transformation agenda has surged ahead with remarkable speed, as the government records sweeping progress in connectivity, innovation financing, skills development and advanced technology infrastructure within the first 100 days of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s renewed mandate.
The Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology says the achievements signal a decisive shift from policy talk to practical implementation, fast-tracking reforms designed to modernise the economy, sharpen public service delivery and position Tanzania as a regional digital powerhouse.
Presenting the ministry’s 100-day performance report in Dodoma recently, docket Minister Angellah Kairuki said the milestones directly advance President Samia’s 13-point pledge, particularly commitments on digital infrastructure, youth innovation and technology-driven economic growth.
“In just over three months, we have transformed vision into measurable action,” she said, noting that long-pending reforms are now moving at unprecedented pace.
Among the headline interventions is the allocation of 5bn/-, to unlock capital for small and medium enterprises and start-ups, bridging a financing gap that has long constrained young innovators.
Fifty start-ups operating in high-impact sectors such as FinTech, artificial intelligence, agri-tech, health tech, tourism tech and logistics will access the funds through commercial banks after meeting eligibility criteria.
The funding will allow emerging companies to recruit skilled talent, upgrade infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity, boosting competitiveness and long-term sustainability.
“The growth of start-ups will significantly boost employment. Each is projected to create between seven and 10 direct jobs, alongside additional indirect opportunities,” Ms Kairuki said.
Applications opened last Wednesday, through the ministry’s digital platforms and recognised innovation networks. Beyond financing, the ministry has laid the groundwork for a stronger innovation ecosystem.
Preparations are underway for the ICT Start-ups Development Fund, a dedicated national financing mechanism aimed at providing predictable, long-term support for innovators.
The draft Start-ups Policy 2026 has also been finalised and submitted for government approval. The policy is expected to simplify registration processes, widen access to capital, stimulate ICT innovation, boost youth employment and attract both domestic and foreign investment.
In a major breakthrough, registered start-ups will now be able to compete for public tenders following integration of the Safari Hunt System with the National Electronic Public Procurement System (NeST).
“This opens the door for young innovators to supply solutions to public institutions and scale their businesses,” she said. To strengthen human capital, the government has launched a collaborative programme linking employers with TVET colleges and universities.
VETA students will now secure industrial attachments in priority sectors including ICT, energy and value-addition industries, gaining hands-on experience essential for employability.
She said preparations are advancing for construction of the National Digital Technology Institute (NDTI) in Nala, Dodoma, at an estimated cost of 167.37 million US dollars (about 435.7bn/-).
The institute will train highly skilled professionals in Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, robotics, data analytics and cybersecurity, supported by cutting-edge laboratories.
Local universities, including University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), University of Dodoma (UDOM), State University of Zanzibar (SUZA) and Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST), have partnered in preliminary programmes valued at 2.94bn/- to upgrade ICT laboratories.
Collaboration with Hanyang University of South Korea will support instructor training and institutional development. Connectivity indicators show steady growth.
The Digital Tanzania Project has connected 800 public institutions to the Government Communication Network (GovNet), accelerating service delivery and improving responsiveness to citizens. Mobile subscriptions climbed from 99.3 million to 106.9 million between October 2025 and January 2026.
Internet users increased to 58.1 million, while mobile money users rose to 76.5 million. Communication costs remain stable, with voice calls averaging 29/- per minute and out-of-bundle data at 9.35/- per MB.
Revenue performance has also exceeded expectations, with the ministry collecting 132.29bn/- representing a 109.9 per cent of its target, through improved efficiency and ICT-driven transparency.
Through the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), 758 communication towers have been completed in 713 wards, benefiting about 8.5 million citizens. Hundreds more towers are under construction, with 201 additional towers planned for underserved highways, border areas and national parks.
Ten districts were newly connected to the National ICT Backbone, raising national coverage to 86 per cent.
The remaining districts are expected to be linked by June 2026. Construction has also begun on a backbone link to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Lake Tanganyika, strengthening cross-border connectivity and trade.
TTCL recorded a 17 per cent rise in fibre-to-home subscribers, while public Wi-Fi coverage expanded to 61 locations across 20 regions.
In a bold step into frontier technologies, the government launched its Five-Year Strategic Plan for Space Programmes (2025–2030), themed “From the Peak of Africa to Space.”
Preparations are underway for the National Space Policy 2026 and the Space Act 2026 to guide satellite development and application in agriculture, mining, environmental management, maritime operations and national planning.
“These initiatives will ensure satellite technologies are developed and applied practically to accelerate national development,” Ms Kairuki said.
Universities including St Joseph University In Tanzania (SJUIT) and Tumaini University Dar es Salaam (TURDACo) are collaborating with the ministry on research and training satellites, while procurement and contractual processes with a satellite equipment manufacturer have been completed, paving the way for satellite production.
With momentum building across financing, infrastructure, connectivity and space technology, Tanzania’s digital transformation is no longer a distant ambition, it is rapidly becoming a lived reality.
Source: Daily News – Tanzania Standard Newspapers
