Digital transformation is accelerating in Africa. Governments of African countries are increasing investments in digital infrastructure to involve all populations in the digital revolution.
The Tanzanian government, through the Universal Communication Services Access Fund (UCSAF), has invested 8.1 billion Tanzanian shillings (3.4 million USD) for the construction of infrastructure aimed at promoting communication technologies. communication (ICT) on the archipelago of Zanzibar. Hussein Ali Mwinyi (photo), President of Zanzibar, inaugurated some of these infrastructures on Wednesday 26 October.
As part of this investment, 1.2 billion shillings have been used for the construction of 11 ICT centers in the 11 districts of Unguja and Pemba, the two main islands forming the archipelago of Zanzibar. UCSAF has also subsidized the construction of 42 communication towers on the archipelago for an amount of 6.9 billion shillings.
“ These towers provide 2G, 3G and 4G services… Hopefully complaints about communication issues will end ,” Mr Mwinyi said.
These various investments are part of the ambition of the Tanzanian authorities to accelerate the digital transformation of the economy and connect 80% of the population to the Internet by 2025. On October 13, the revolutionary government of Zanzibar signed a memorandum of understanding with Oman Data Park for the construction of a data center on the archipelago.
According to Justina Mashiba, Director General of UCSAF, the new telecommunications infrastructure should help stimulate the use of ICTs and accelerate the social and economic development of Zanzibar in particular and Tanzania in general. “ The goal is to leave no one behind in the use of ICT ,” she added.