Tanzania’s orbital leap: Navigating the next steps

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has taken a monumental step towards its spacefaring ambitions by securing a coveted position in the celestial vastness.

While the journey to a fully operational satellite remains long, the government yesterday outlined a roadmap of crucial procedures that must be completed before the nation can launch its first satellite.

Speaking to The Citizen, the permanent secretary (PS) of the ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Mohammed Abdulla, emphasised the multi-faceted process ahead.

Ratifying five international agreements, establishing a dedicated satellite-governing agency, and formulating a comprehensive policy and law are key steps before budget allocation can even begin.

“To begin with, the permanent secretaries of several ministries, including this one, and heads of government institutions have formed a national team,” he said.

According to him, the team that was formed has already had its first meeting and is preparing to have a second one to oversee the process of launching.

He explained that the government was also in the process of forming an instrument with cyberspace technology that would oversee the satellite.

Further, he noted that the government was also required to ratify at least five international contracts that needed to be endorsed by the Ministerial Council and the National Assembly.

“The government also needs to put up a policy and law to govern the satellite before the budget can be decided, and this is after it has decided on the kind of satellite it requires, either for communication or other sectors,” he said.

The PS said after the minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye, was quoted on Friday as announcing the historical moment that marks a significant step forward in the country’s space ambitions.

“This success is one of the fruits of the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC23),” Mr Nnauye declared, marking the culmination of intense efforts on the international stage. This new orbit, at 16 degrees west, grants Tanzania a dedicated space in the vast celestial expanse,” Mr Nnauye was quoted as saying.

This news comes barely a few months after Mr Nnauye’s earlier assurance that the government’s was unwaveringly committed to launching the country’s maiden satellite within a year. “We are confident,” he stated, “and we are currently laying the groundwork.”

The potential of a national satellite for Tanzania is vast, as sectors like communication, agriculture, disaster management, and allied industries stand to benefit immensely from its capabilities.

Furthermore, the technology extends beyond these immediate applications, touching upon natural resource exploration and other vital economic sectors.

Across the African continent, a select few nations have already embraced the power of satellite technology.

Egypt leads the pack with nine satellites in orbit, followed by South Africa (eight), Algeria (seven) and Nigeria (six).

Others, like Morocco, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Mauritius, join the ranks of spacefaring nations.

Tanzania’s vision to join this elite group resonated with investors worldwide, highlighting the global recognition of the country’s potential.

Additionally, scholars and politicians have consistently voiced their concerns about Tanzania lagging in the global space race.

Given this, a University of Dar es Salaam Lecturer at the Collage of ICT, Dr Moses Ismail, said that following Tanzania having secured a position in orbit, it is vital to start the process of deploying and maintaining it to ensure the decision is not recalled.

“The process is expensive, but be it as it may, the government needs to set aside its budget and start a unit with a team of experts that have the capacity for cyberspace to manage it,” he said.

He noted that having a satellite is crucial for stimulating economic growth and investment through data analysis as well as monitoring the skies to understand what is happening to be able to issue the country’s information on global space.

He noted that, most importantly, the satellite would capture information and analyse it before a disaster occurs by giving early warning for an informed decision, stressing that what happened in Hanang would have been avoided if the country had a satellite.

“The satellite is also important for national security through monitoring of the skies and controlling border security,” he said.

CEO and Founder of Sahara Ventures, Jumanne Mtambalike, agreed with his counterpart but added that it would help in remote sensing and earth observation to make informed decisions on agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, and enhancing national security.

“It will enhance the country’s communication, including with people in remote or underserved areas,” he said.