TCRA's grand plan to bridge digital divide

QUESTION. The government aims to drive internet penetration to 80 percent by 2025. Is this achievable? What strategy does TCRA have in place to support this?

ANSWER: Let me clarify the figures from the beginning. Internet penetration is the ratio of the number of internet users with the total population. According to the September 2022 communications statistics, the penetration was 51 percent. The penetration trend in the last five years and the strategies implemented show that the target of covering 80 percent of the population by 2025 is achievable. In 2016, there were 19.86 million internet users; with a penetration of 40 percent. The number of SIM cards, internet users and penetration was 22.99 million with 45 percent in 2017; increasing to 23.14 million, at 43 percent in 2018 and 25.79 million with 46 percent in 2019.

There were 28.47 million users; with 46 percent penetration in 2020 and 29.86 million with 50 percent in 2021. By September 2022, there were 31.12 million with a penetration of 51 percent.

Several factors are likely to contribute to attaining the 2025 target of 80 percent coverage, but I will mention only five.

First is the increase in the number of service providers in the licence categories that promote the spread and uptake of the internet. The number of application service providers has increased by 38 percent in a year; from 66 in April 2021 to 107 in September 2022. These operators promote internet services.

The second factor is the anticipated increase in the currently low number of SIM card owners with internet-enabled devices such as mobile phones and tablets. It is estimated that only 27 percent of communications consumers own smartphones.

The outcome of the Digital Tanzania Project is the third factor. The project, implemented by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Information Technology; seeks to mainstream digital solutions in all sectors of the national economy, governance and social welfare. A key ingredient is a citizens’ digital literacy programme, aimed at raising awareness of, and imparting basic ICT skills to, Tanzanians at different levels. The objective is to promote accessibility and adoption of emerging technologies; including smartphones.

The fourth is the opportunities to be created by expanding the national ICT broadband backbone (NICTBB) network to connect all regional and district centres. This is a key infrastructure for broadband network expansion.

The fifth arises from regulatory interventions to promote universal access. TCRA has assigned frequencies in four prime spectrum bands with roll-out conditions designed to speed up the deployment of broadband networks. In June 2018 and October 2022 respectively, TCRA successfully assigned spectrum to operators through auctions, a strategy that will facilitate the deployment of communications resources key in implementation national programmes and strategies for the digital economy in Tanzania. The two service providers assigned two blocks on the 700 MHz band in 2018 were given the obligation to ensure their broadband services covered 60 percent of Tanzanians by the end of 2021 and 90 percent by the end of 2024. Service providers granted licences in the October 2022 auction were given roll-out targets; including having a geographical presence in at least six (6) different administrative regions of Tanzania by 2025.

The modern economy revolves around broadband connectivity and services. What is Tanzania doing to be part of this and what specifically is the role of TCRA in supporting this cause?

As explained previously, the award of spectrum through auctions will accelerate the penetration of high-speed internet access throughout the country. TCRA has aligned its strategy with national priorities, including the National Development Vision 2025, the third Five-Year Development Plan and the National ICT Policy. Additionally, TCRA promotes innovation in ICT and other communication sub-sectors. TCRA is currently implementing what is known as a ‘technological sandbox’ programme, in which we provide communication resources free of charge to ICT/digital innovators (start-ups) of all age groups to test their ICT innovations. These resources include numbers, short codes, Tanzania (dot tz) domains and radio frequencies. These can be used for three months from the time of assignment and assignees can request an extension. This programme is implemented in collaboration with the National Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH).

What can you say about the data cost in Tanzania as a regulator and what are you doing to make sure it remains affordable?

Let me state from the beginning that reports of independent international ICT and research organisations have repeatedly shown that Tanzania leads East Africa in the quality and prices of internet services. The reports are accessible on websites such as www.cable.co.uk; www.visual.capitalist and www.allafrica.com. TCRA’s June and September 2022 communications statistics show that data continues to be the cheapest compared to voice and short messages (SMS). A minute of voice is more expensive than a unit of SMS and data. Data is measured in bytes, of which 1,000 make a megabyte (MB), the preferred unit. Illustrating how data prices are low in Tanzania, statistics show that the cost of one MB accessed without a bundle fell from Sh103.35 in 2015 to Sh8 in September 2022. Bundled data costs fell from Sh2.7 to Sh1.8 per unit in the period. TCRA will continue to educate consumers on how to get the best out of subscribed data packages.

What steps are being taken to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas?

Differences in coverage and access to communications services along geographical lines are among the five main differences or divides in ICT coverage and uptake in a respective country. The other differences are in terms of income, gender, generation and education. The four can be further analysed in terms of how they are experienced in urban and rural settings. Tanzania has developed strategies to address the geographical divide between rural and urban areas and between areas with seamless coverage and those without. In 2006, the country established the Universal Communications Services Access Fund (UCSAF) to manage programmes for rolling out services to rural and underserved areas.

The Fund provides subsidies to service providers to roll out in areas with difficult terrain and aren’t commercially viable. TCRA works with UCSAF in many areas and is represented on its board. TCRA has identified areas with poor coverage, including islands in Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean around Unguja and Pemba.

Recently, TCRA has been playing a “policing role”, banning media outlets which are accused of violating regulations. Don’t you think this oppresses media freedom?

TCRA regulates electronic and postal communications, including telecommunications, the internet and broadcasting. It licenses services that utilise ICT to reach consumers. These include radio and television services; both traditional and online.

TCRA regulates content service providers by enforcing licence conditions and regulations, rules and guidelines. The TCRA Act of 2003 established the TCRA Content Committee to handle content issues, including breaches of the respective regulations. Before reaching any decision, the Content Committee avails the summoned parties the opportunity to present their case; and it happens most of the time that they acknowledge the breaches and then apologize. The common defence has often been the lack of awareness of the respective regulations. TCRA is implementing a programme to educate online content service providers on their obligations.

We are headed towards 5G but a big part of rural areas doesn’t even have access to low-speed broadband technologies such as 3G. How does TCRA support the operators in this domain?

Some 68 percent of Tanzanians can access 3G mobile communications services and 45 percent access 4G. Five G (5G) will co-exist with 2G, 3G and 4G for some time. It is expected that by the end of 2022, operators will start to deploy 5G sites in a few areas of major cities. Initial deployment will target corporate customers. In addition, the deployment of 5G will depend much on demand and use cases. As the sector regulator, TCRA will provide a conducive environment for network expansion.

An example of technologies considered elsewhere is the use of Television white space (TVWS) (i.e, unused band in the TV spectrum). Are there regulations for TVWS usage in Tanzania? What are the potential business models for rural areas?

Tanzania has a licensing framework which is technological and service neutral. An operator does not need to apply for another license to provide a similar service using a different technology. The cited licensing framework does not tie the radio frequency spectrum to a specific technology; hence operators may use some of their spectra for services.