Tanzania states the Major Achievements in the ICT By Innocent Mungy – Busan, South Korea Hon. Makame Mbarawa, (MP) Minister for Communication, Science and Technology informed the ITU 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference today that Tanzania has successfully implemented the Geneva Agreement on migration from terrestrial analogue to digital television broadcasting making Tanzania among the first countries in the African Region to migrate. He said by June 2014, digital broadcasting footprints covered 70% of the country. “We are expecting to cover the whole country well before the set deadline,” he added. Hon. Mbarawa said for the national and regional connectivity, Tanzania has recorded significant progress. He said the Government has invested in the deployment of 7560 km of Broadband Fiber optic cable, currently connecting all administrative regions in the country. “The broadband optic fiber cable network also connects land-locked countries through multiple connections to the border points of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Zambia, and Malawi. In addition, Seychelles is also connected by fiber optic underwater cable from Tanzania”. Said Minister Mbarawa. He said Tanzania ICT policy; legal and converged licensing framework to guide the sector has paid great dividends. He further said that Tanzania tele density (telecommunication penetration) stands at 64 percent. “The number of subscriptions for mobile phone users have increased from 21.2 million in 2010 to the present figure of over 28.3 million. Internet users have increased from 5.1 million in 2010 to over 9.6 million today. Currently, 57 per cent of the population above 16 years of age have access to financial services compared to just 27 percent in the year 2009, thanks to mobile phone money services.” Explained Hon. Mbarawa to over 3000 delegates to the ITU 2014 Plenipotentiary Conference. Minister Mbarawa further said that, because of the experience Tanzania has in spearheading the development of ICT in Tanzania, it has been consistent to ITU goals and targets for developing countries, “We are asking for support for Membership in the General Council of the ITU’. In this regard, I now wish inform this Conference that Tanzania has put her candidature for the seat of the ITU Council representing Region D. Tanzania is capable of delivering and are counting on all ITU members to vote for Tanzania. We are determined to share our experience and support ITU family and deliver to the ITU Vision and Mission,” said Hon. Mbarawa. Tanzania is among 17 countries from ITU Region D contesting for a 13 seats in the ICT council during an election to take from Thursday this week to Monday next week. Tanzania has been active in various ITU initiatives from its resolutions and decisions since joining the organization. Tanzania has adopted pro-ICT policies with supportive legislation to build an ICT-driven nation. Tanzania presented three issues that would wish to the Conference to address in the Plenipotentiary conference: support to development of human and institutional capacity; collaboration in fighting cybercrime and regulatory frameworks for achieving multilateral connectivity and universal access. ITU’s Plenipotentiary is the world’s largest meeting of international policy makers from the information and communication (ICT) sector. Known informally as PP-14, this year’s conference welcomes participants from some 175 ITU Member States, Sector Members and observer organizations, including over 104 Ministers, 35 Deputy Ministers, and 67 ambassadors. It happens every four years to set the strategic direction of ITU and to develop policies and recommendations that address the evolving needs of the Union’s members. Issues on this year’s agenda include digital inclusion and broadband rollout, broader international cooperation on ICT development, and new strategies to encourage membership and strengthen multi-stakeholder participation. For the first time, the conference will also try to reach international agreement on establishment of new global ICT development goals and targets under a new framework called ‘Connect 2020’. The Tanzania delegation is headed by Hon. Prof. Makame Mbarawa and his Alternate Head of Delegation, Hon. Juma Duni Haji, (MP) Minister of Communication and Works, Zanzibar Revolutionary Government, comprising of Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, TCRA Director General Prof. John Nkoma, Directors of ICT and Communication in both Governments and others from different institutions.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 08:17:06 +0000
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