Tech

Tanzania woos investors on 5G technology

Published

3 years ago

May 22, 2022

The Tanzanian government has opened its doors to international investors who wish to invest in 5G technology in the country to submit their applications.

The Eastern African country’s Minister for Information, Communications and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye, who gave the open invitation while presenting the ministry’s budget for the 2022/23 financial year in the parliament on Friday, said the doors were now open for “investors willing and able to invest in the 5G technology.

“The government is now ready to allow investment in the 5th generation (5G) network trials – the fastest ever – as efforts are gearing up to develop the digital economy,” Nnauye said.

The Minister also assured would-be investors that the government, through the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), was ready to offer spectrum for service providers who were ready for 5G trials.

“This offering of spectrum process will be transparent and competitive. We invite those willing to invest in the 5G technology for trials,” Nnauye said.

He stressed that the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, internet of things and block chain were important for building sustainable cities.

“All these require strong infrastructure for speedy internet. The use of 5G will set a stage for the digital economy revolution,” he noted, adding that the government would keep the momentum going when it “came to creating an enabling environment for investors to invest in the internet infrastructures with a view to widening the scope of coverage.

“This is important for the country to realise its target of covering 80 percent of Tanzanians with speedy internet come 2025,” Nnauye added.

The move will come as a big relief for companies like Vodacom which said in 2020 it was ready to invest in the 5G technology and was just waiting for the regulatory approval before it could roll out its investment plans in 5G.

Related Topics:5G Network Featured Investment Tanzania

Click to comment

Tech

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Published

24 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity.

The plan which is a joint initiative of the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation and The Gambian National Communications Authority (NCA) will see mobile users in both countries avoiding extra charges for calls, texts, and data, which in turn, is expected to boost trade, tourism, and economic integration across borders.

The collaboration, according to a joint statement by the two bodies, aligns with the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) broader push for seamless regional communication.

“Ghana and The Gambia are forging new paths in West Africa’s digital landscape, implementing a free-roaming initiative,” the statement said.

“This move strengthens regional connectivity while highlighting the role of technological collaboration in fostering economic integration. The initiative enables mobile users travelling between the two nations to make calls, send messages, and use data services without additional roaming fees.”

It further noted that by reducing these costs, the program aligns with the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative, which seeks to eliminate barriers to communication across member states.

“It is a boost for trade and travel as the free roaming plan is expected to spur economic activities by streamlining cross-border communication.

“Businesses and individuals travelling between Ghana and The Gambia can now stay connected without worrying about exorbitant charges, facilitating smoother transactions and personal interactions. The initiative is also expected to attract more tourists by ensuring seamless digital access for visitors.

“This collaboration marks another milestone in Ghana’s commitment to expanding digital connectivity, following Ghana’s successful implementation of similar agreements with Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, with talks of possible roaming partnerships with Liberia.

“By focusing on digital integration, Ghana and The Gambia demonstrate the power of technology to bridge gaps between countries. This step also serves as a model for other West African nations to join the free-roaming framework, contributing to the larger goal of a connected and economically integrated region,” it added.

Tech

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from February 24-28, 2025, as a flagship event within Regenerative Ocean Week.

The Ocean Innovation Africa is set to be Africa’s most significant platform for Ocean Innovation conservation, and sustainable development in the blue economy. OIA2025 will be co-organised with leading partners, including IUCN, GIZ, OceanHub Africa, Catalyze and the Ocean-Climate Platform.

With the theme, “Science-to-Solution”, the Regenerative Ocean Week will present a line-up of sessions designed to bridge the gap between scientific research, business innovation, policy, and community engagement.

According to the organizers of the event, it will bring together African ocean innovators, investors, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to explore practical solutions that can be applied across the continent.

“These include the OIA Pitch Competition, which is a platform for Africa-based startups and entrepreneurs to showcase breakthrough ideas in ocean-impact solutions, allowing them to connect with investors and industry leaders and emphasizing Africa’s role in driving sustainable ocean initiatives,” the organizers said in a statement.