By A Special Correspondent
Tanzania is rapidly emerging as one of Africa’s leading digital powerhouses, with internet and mobile service adoption reaching unprecedented levels.
The country’s remarkable progress in information and communication technology (ICT) uptake is being driven by the government’s accelerated efforts to digitise public services, expand broadband infrastructure, and create a more enabling regulatory environment for innovation.
This sustained digital transformation is positioning Tanzania among the continent’s fastest-growing internet economies. According to the GSMA – the global association representing mobile network operators – Tanzania is projected to become the fifth-fastest growing internet market in Africa by 2030.
The GSMA further forecasts that the country will add 11 million new mobile internet subscribers between 2023 and 2030, a projection that underscores Tanzania’s deepening digital engagement and its steady progress toward universal connectivity and inclusion.
Strong growth in connectivity
Data from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) show that internet subscriptions surged by 4.1 percent to 56.3 million in the first quarter (Q1) of the 2025/2026 financial year, which ended in September.
As a result, the national internet penetration rate rose to 82.6 percent, up from 79 percent previously – a significant milestone in the country’s digital inclusion journey.
The TCRA attributes this growth to the continued rollout of 4G networks and the emergence of 5G technology, especially across key urban centres such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha, and Mwanza.
5G now covers 28.9 percent of the population, while 4G and 3G services reach 94.2 percent and 93.8 percent, respectively. Mobile broadband remains the dominant access mode, accounting for over 99 percent of all internet connections.
Expanding telecom and mobile money ecosystem
The telecom sector also recorded robust growth, with active mobile subscriptions rising by 7.1 percent to 99.3 million. Vodacom maintained market leadership with a 31.5 percent share, followed by Yas (28.2 percent) and Airtel (21.9 percent).
Domestic voice traffic jumped 9.5 percent to 47.4 billion minutes, reflecting continued demand for traditional communication services alongside digital ones.
Digital financial services are fueling even more growth. Mobile money remains a key pillar of Tanzania’s digital economy.
Active digital wallet subscriptions grew by 5.3 percent to 71.7 million, while the number of quarterly transactions surpassed 5.27 billion, highlighting the deep integration of financial technology into daily commerce and livelihoods.
Policy backing and future outlook
This rapid digital expansion is underpinned by strategic initiatives such as the National ICT Policy 2025 and the Digital Tanzania Program – a World Bank–supported effort aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure and strengthening e-government services.
By fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, Tanzania is building a robust digital ecosystem that supports innovation, financial inclusion, and efficient public service delivery.
With over 80 percent of its population connected to the internet and mobile financial services reaching nearly every household, Tanzania is rapidly transforming into a digitally empowered economy where technology drives social and economic progress. As infrastructure investments and regulatory reforms continue, the country is well on track to become a regional hub for digital innovation and inclusive growth.
