How TCRA Improves Telecommunication Sector

Telecommunication industry has been growing fast in the last fifteen years, leading to the growth of economy.

A milestone in telecommunication liberalization was achieved by the establishment of the telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) in 2003. TCRA is an autonomous government agency established by the Act No. 12 of 2003 as an independent authority for regulating and licensing of postal, broadcasting and electronic communications in the country.


This Act led to the merging of the Tanzania Communications Commission (TCC ), with the then Tanzania Broadcasting Commission (TBC) to form TCRA. According to the Director General of TCRA Prof John Nkoma, the establishment of TCRA marked a new era for the communications sector in Tanzania that has been characterized by growing in investments and operations.

"TCRA is mandated to promote effective competition and electronic efficiency, protect consumer interests, grant and enforce licence conditions, regulate tariffs and monitor performance," he says.

Prof Nkoma adds that TCRA has been given mandate to create awareness and understanding of the regulated sectors such as the rights and obligations of consumers and regulated suppliers, the way in which complaints and disputes may be initiated and resolved, the duties, functions and activities of the authority and taking into account the need to protect and preserve the environment.

TCRA's vision is to be a world-class communications regulator creating a level playing field among communication service providers and promoting environmentally friendly,accessible and affordable services to consumers.

The mission statement of the authority is to develop an effective and efficient communications regulatory framework, promote efficiency among the communications services providers and protect consumer interests with an objective of contributing to socio-economic and technological development in the United Republic of Tanzania.

Telecommunication sector has grown from a single telephone company to seven to date, with a total sub-scriber base of 20,000,000 as of June 2010 compared to 230,000 that were in 1993.

Apart from the growth in subscriber base, the penetration has also been demonstrated by the combined efforts between the government and other stakeholders including TCRA to continue facilitation in opening up tele-centres.

The number rose from 6 in 2006 to 14 in December 2010, of which, 8 were facilitated by

TCRA and 2 by the ministry responsible for communications. Further achievements were also realized through increased number of data and internet services providers from 25 in May 2006 to 68 in December 2010.


The growth has been tremendous from a single radio station, no television on Tanzania Mainland to 67 radio stations and 38 television stations now. The post sub-sector now boasts of 55 courier and 82 sub-post services companies from just a single one. This sub-sector also has been a significant transformation by allowing the private sector participate in courier business bringing in new opportunities and various methods of doing business.

Prof Nkoma notes that under TCRA, the number of licensed telecommunications operators increased from 5 in 2003 to 62 in 2009. Most of these were issued under the Convergence Licensing Framework (CLF) which the TCRA effected in 2006. The penetration of Information Communication Technology in Tanzania is demonstrated by the phenomenon increase in teledensity (number of line per 100 persons) from 15% in May 2006 to 50% in December 2010.

As far as communication liberalization in the country is concerned, Prof Nkoma elaborated that, the fixed line subscriber base has been eroded by the mobile market, while fixed line subscriber number increased from 151,644 in 2005 to 174,511 in 2009. The number of mobile cellular increased from 5.6 million to 20.9 million.

There are two fixed line operators (TTCL and Zantel), while there are seven mobile operators (Airtel, Tigo, Vodacom, Sasatel, Zantel and TTCL). He also said that, although the government has embrased government as a major driving force behind efficient and effective transactions in government departments, there are big challenges posed by the demand for requisite infrastructure, policies, capacity development, ICT applications and content development in the national language, Kiswahili.

With all these developments he said that, it was inevitable to revisit the TCRA Act No 12 of 2003 and amend areas that were outdated, repeal the Broadcasting Services Act of 1993 and

Telecommunications Act of 1997; then formed one comprehensive legislation, passed by the Parliament in January 2010, assented by the President in April 2010 and operationalised on 18th June 2010.

This is known as Electronic and Postal Communications Act (EPOCA ), which takes an account all the contemporary technological and business developments in order to achieve the intended goals in the ICT policy framework. He further explained that, the new Act composed amendments and new areas, issues that were carried forth with amendments include licensing, interconnection and access, postal communications, content regulation, anti-competitive practices and content numbering resources and technical standards.

New areas include, postal code, new physical address system, digital broadcasting, central equipment identification register (CEIR) and SIM registration. There are also general sections covering environment, offences and penalties, miscellaneous provisions, traditional provisions, regulatory forbearance and consequential amendments.


The electronic and postal communications Act (EPOCA) has come just in time as an important instrument for the much needed and awaited efficient regulatory environment, he added. On his part, Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Prof Makame M. Mbarawa said that, his ministry has given a warrant to make sure that information and communication technology contribute fully to the national development.

He explained that, apart from this responsibility, the ministry has also given a mandate to supervise institutions, co-operations, commissions and companies that contribute to the ministry's efforts towards achieving its goals as well as public expectations.

Addressing members of the Parliament when presenting his ministry's budget for the 2011/12 financial year in Dodoma on June 2011, Prof Mbarawa mentioned those institutions as Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), Mbeya Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Nelson Mandela- Arusha Institute of Science and Technology (AIST) and Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC).

Others are National Communication for Science and Technology (NCST), Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC), Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation Limited (TTCL), Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and Universal Communications Access Fund (UCAF). He explained that the government will continue to implement a national communication backbone project which started on February 2009.

The first phase of the project has already been completed and the services are being provided. The first phase covered a total of 4,300 km in sixteen regions including Dar es Salaam, Coast, Morogoro, Iringa, Mbeya, Dodoma and Singida. Others are Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Shinyanga, Tabora, Mwanza, Mara and Kagera regions. The second phase of implementation of the project has already started and is expected to be completed within 18 months (up to March 2012).

Officiating at a two-day workshop on the theme "towards secure and sustainable communication sector," a Principal Secretary, Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, Dr Florens Turuka welcomed the opportunities from all the world specialized entities and governments that will facilitate establishment of a competent national Computer Emergency Response Centre (CERT).


He listed areas that require attention in the Tanzanian fully liberalized communication market as proper choice standards when the country migrates from analogue to digital broadcasting; competition over site and consumers ability to freely change operators without changing their phone numbers and appropriate coding of streets and houses.

The objective of the workshop was to share and discuss essential aspects and developments in the country's dynamic communication sector and other areas of importance to the sector nationally and internationally. There have been a number of other significant achievements in the information and communication sector in Tanzania, apart from the growing Internet connectivity and establishment of the Internet service exchange points (IXPs) in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Dodoma.

Alongside IXPs is the establishment of the Tanzania Network Information Centre to manage the country's code top level domain (dot-tzccTLD). All these efforts address the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) commitments.

Bank Introduces Mobile Phone Tax Payment Means

Payments for property and personal income taxes have become easier for NMB customers with the introduction of a mobile phone payment system.

The bank launched the mobile phone bills payment system yesterday. The system would reduce the need for taxpayers to queue at taxpaying points.


NMB customers would also be able pay their water bills recharge their mobile phones and paid TV using the system. The system allows the bank's customers to pay taxes and other services using money that is in their accounts.

However, only Vodacom subscribers would be able to use the system at the moment, according to the bank's chief executive officer Mark Wiessing.

He added that the bill payment system is a free service to all NMB mobile customers. He also noted that the service would simplify payment and remove the risk of missing important services for late paying

TRA commissioner general Harry Kitilya commended the service saying that it was a revolution in the payment systems.


"The payment system will tremendously improve tax collection as the tax payers who delay to do so for avoiding disturbances and queues in banks will be encouraged," said Mr Kitilya.

He added that the system will reduce the risk of carrying money to banks and reduce cost of doing business by serving time that would be spent in banks."It will easy payment of taxes bearing in mind the traffic jams in Dar es Salaam. The system will also easy reporting system for the TRA," added Mr Kitilya during the launch of the system.

NMB has already a mobile banking system that allows customers moving money to other accounts within the bank as well as pay for electricity bills and other services. About 550000 customers of the bank have subscribed to the mobile banking system.

Regional Body Launches an Electronic Trade Information Data Base

Nairobi — Moving goods within and outside the region is going to take less time following the launch of an electronic data base on existing rules, procedures, regulations, and documents on trade.

The trade e-portal has been developed by the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations to address the challenges faced in importing and exporting to and from the East African region that eventually translate into high cost implications to traders.


"The federation's e-portal is expected to become an important reference point for traders before submission of the required trade documents making them better informed about import and export procedures in the region," said FEAFFA's regional executive officer John Mathenge at the launch of the.The minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Rwanda, Kanimba Francois launched the portal officially this week in Kigali.



According to Mr Mathenge, the portal would reduce the cost of doing business in the region as clearing and forwarding agents will substantially spend less time searching for the relevant trade document, rules, procedures and regulations governing cross border movement of cargo to and from the EAC partner states.

The facility will provide freight forwarders real time information on the documents, procedures, taxes and duties payable and the rules and regulations governing the importation and exportation of certain major products into and out of the East African countries. = The portal was developed with support from TradeMark East Africa as part of the efforts towards establishing a single window System and integrated border management in the region. These are programmes that aim at facilitating trade in the region.

Internet Governance - the Need for a Global Management Body

Should developing nations fear or embrace the Internet? This is a question that should be responded to in the affirmative on the surface. After all, how would our lives be without email, websites, facebook, twitter and linkedin, among others?


In fact, one wonders how the urban, elite, (office workers, researchers, the corporate world) lived without the Internet only a couple of years ago. Undoubtedly the Internet along with other information society technologies and mobile telephony stands out has added tonnes of value to modern life. Precisely because we are hooked and even addicted to the Internet in the globalised world is the more reason why we should be wary of its downsides while leveraging on its many undeniable positives.

While issues such as digital divide, crime and pornography have been identified as cyberspace challenges, governance remains on the fringes of the pros and cons of the Internet.

As perceptive communications critics have pointed out, control and management of the Internet from a single government, the US, is a cause for concern. The addresses that all Internet users - corporate and individual - use are assigned by the Internet Corporations for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organisation established by the US government.

This means that all email addresses, websites, portals and servers are, as communications scholar Dan Schiller puts it, "supervised by the US by the US."

Even if we held the view that the US government is responsible enough not to abuse the special position of being the unilateral Internet governance agency, this situation is inherently slanted for a resource that is used by over 2 billion so-called netizens.


This is indeed what communications scholars refer to as hegemony - another word for domination. For, it's not too much of a stretch to argue that since the US singly provides overall management of the Internet, it has the potential to rule over the 2 billion-plus people who live and work through Internet.Such unfettered unilateral access to global data should have everybody worried, more so governments and large non-US corporates.

What if, for example, some elements in the US government decided to mine data on countries, organisations and individuals from the Internet to further the political, economic or social ends of Uncle Sam?

There is no end to all manner of speculation as to the potential abuse of this power by the US, particularly at a time when the world's single superpower is struggling to remain afloat, economically.The US government would be the first to strenuously deny the possibility of someone intruding into confidential content and accessing the codes that create domain names. Fair enough.

As with Wikileaks, the initial source was a disgruntled US civil servant with access to the diplomatic cables that have supremely embarrassed governments across the world and changed the face of diplomacy.


For instance, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is reported to have said that "on their own, new technologies do not take sides in the struggle for freedom and progress, but the US does; we stand for a single Internet where all of humanity has equal access to knowledge and ideas."

This is another way of saying that the US may use its Internet prowess to influence political discourse and even actively advocate change in some parts of the world.

Against this statement, consider that the US has been promoting youth movements specifically tapping Internet strategies. Recall the spurt between the Kenyan government and former US ambassador Michael Rannenberger early this year?

To what extent are these movements based on covert information on governments and societies?

Just such worries led to lobbying particularly by developing nations for the establishment of a supranational body to oversee Internet management during the World Society for the Information Society in Tunis in 2005.

IGF is more interested in cyber crime, broadband availability, new technologies and legal and regulatory issues at regional and country levels.Where the hot button issue of management of the Internet numbers and names resources is concerned, the US can't budge, won't budge and IGF will follow cue without question.


However, in an ideal situation, IGF or UNESCO would be the best organisational home for the assignment of addresses to the world's netizens - individual and corporate. Decision making on key policy and operational issues on the Internet would be representational, with each country represented in one way or another.

The prevailing debate on Internet management and the unequal information flows as well as global security issues is at the heart of the intersection between politics and information technology today.

As to whether the push for a UN-style entity to manage this resource will succeed remains to be seen. The US will not willingly agree to loosen its grip over this resource. So much for democracy.

German Software Firm Launches Product

In Dar es Salaam A German business application software provider for industries and market segments, SAP AG, has launched its new product for small and medium businesses in Tanzania.

According to the chief executive officer (CEO) of Double Click Consulting Ltd, Mr Ali Shariff, the product called Sap Business One 8.8.1, integrates all core business functions across an entire company including all key departments within the particular organisation.


With sap application in a particular company, different departments get connected to one system and they get email notifications of what is going on in another section in terms of transactions.

"Unlike other small business solutions on the market today, Sap business one is a single application eliminating the need for separate installations and complex integration of multiple modules...Sap brings all systems together and the manager can view the whole company simply," said Mr Shariff.


Mr Shariff was speaking during a press briefing before the official launch of the software in yesterday in Dar es Salaam.Sap delivers its software solutions in Tanzania through its business partners who are Advance One, Bluekey, Double Click Consulting Ltd, iO.sys and ITSL.

The Sap Business One Channel Manager for Africa Region, Mr Nazir Jadavji said the product was meant for all companies and small and medium entrepreneurs for efficient management of their respective organisations.

"We have packages of different levels of organisations from SMEs to government institutions like ministries and its departments," said Mr Jadavji.

However, it was noted that only few organisations about 20 companies are using the software in the country and according to Mr Shariff, the low turnout is due to lack of merits of using such systems in their operations.

Dar es Salaam Welcomes India to Invest in ICT

Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbarawa

Indians businessmen and women have been asked to seize the abundant opportunities in Tanzania by investing in key areas such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development.

The challenge was thrown here by the Minister for Communications, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbarawa, during the plenary session of the India-Africa Business Partnership summit which opened here on Thursday.


He said the government wants investors particularly in developing local multi-media content software that would address issues that are relevant to the national development.

"Instead of relying on software that has been designed for the entire world, we need investors who would develop a customized IT content for our country," he said.

He told the two-day forum that has brought together ministers from different African countries, businessmen and women, diplomats and representatives from multinational companies mainly based in India that Tanzania's fiscal and political stability offer a credible offer for investments.

"With its strategic geographical position, Tanzania places itself as the most ideal place in the entire East and Central African region where investors not only from India but world over could come and explore various untapped business opportunities," he said.


He mentioned other areas which are yet to be tapped fully as IT parks and small ICT villages where the youth could assemble and design software that is ideal for the local markets.

He gave an example of business processing outsourcing (BPO) system which could create more jobs for Tanzanians by creating calling centres in the country.

The minister said Indian investors should also capitalize on the fast growing East African Community (EAC) market, covering over 140 million people.

He said that with the improved communication and infrastructure such as road and railway network, the EAC market offers a quick return on investment (ROI).

"The fibre optic project has made communication easier for Tanzania and the landlocked countries such as Zambia, Malawi, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda," he said.

The first phase of Tanzania's 10,674-kilometre national fibre-optic backbone was completed in May last year, connecting to the SEACOM, and EASSy submarine cables.

It runs from Mombasa (Kenya) through Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda), Kigali (Rwanda), and Bujumbura (Burundi) to Dar es Salaam.

The minister also called for investments in mining, agro-based industry, energy, manufacturing, health and education.

Deputy Minister in the Zanzibar Ministry of Trade, Industry and Marketing, Ms Thuwayba Kisasi who is also attending the summit also called on for investments in tourism, value adding on agro-products and deep sea fishing.

Vodacom Tanzania offers flexible bill payments

Vodacom Tanzania and Nokia Siemens Networks has announced an agreement with Vodacom Tanzania to offer flexible bill payment options.


Dietlof Mare, Vodacom Tanzania MD (image source: Vodacom Tanzania)

Nokia Siemens Networks has migrated the existing charging and billing system of Vodacom Tanzania to its own charge-at-once unified platform.

With the unified platform, Vodacom Tanzania’s customers can now flexibly choose either prepaid, post paid or a combination of both payment options for voice, data and SMS services. The platform also offers a wide set of pre-defined modules that can be used to create marketing campaigns with minimal effort and more flexibility in a shorter turnaround time.

“We wanted our customers to be the first to enjoy flexibility in bill payments, and we have become the first ones to implement this flexibility in Africa,” said Dietlof Mare, Vodacom Tanzania MD in a statement.

“Nokia Siemens Networks’ exceptional delivery capabilities ensured fast rollout of flexible payment methods for all services used by our individual and enterprise customers. The new platform also significantly reduces the effort required for the implementation of these flexible payment options. With a customer base of over ten million subscribers, we are always committed to bringing world-class solutions to our customers in the Tanzanian market,” added Dietlof.

Deon Geyser, customer team head at Nokia Siemens Networks said: “Implementing Nokia Siemens Networks’ unified charging and billing platform is an example of Vodacom’s commitment to introducing the latest technology on the market, offering a wide range of services with flexible payment methods. The platform provides flexible bill payment options for both fixed and mobile network services for all customers.”

With migration to Nokia Siemens Networks’ charge-at-once unified platform, the customers of Vodacom Tanzania can now choose post-paid method for using services for business purposes, and prepaid option for private voice calls or SMS. In addition, the platform enables family contracts, where parents can opt for post-paid payment for their voice services and use their phones to recharge their children’s prepaid subscriptions.

Nokia Siemens Networks’ charging and billing platform has a variety of features including self administration, which allows customers to set bill limits and receive alerts on exceeding it. It also allows them various options for recharging their prepaid accounts. With this platform, the operator can also offer special SMS plans as well as customised tariff schemes to its subscribers for internet use.

Vodacom Tanzania Limited is Tanzania’s leading cellular network offering state-of-the-art GSM communication services to more than 10 million customers across the country. It is a subsidiary company of Vodacom Group of South Africa.

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services.