Tanzania to Complete Nationwide Fiber Optic Network Connectivity by 2024 with Final 33 Districts

The Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) plans to connect the last 33 districts to the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) cable in 2024.

This announcement was made on 18^th September 2024 by TTCL’s Director of Engineering, Engineer Cecil Francis at the Connect 2 Connect Conference held in Arusha.

Speaking to the press, Engineer Francis stated that 106 out of 139 districts are connected to the NICTBB cable and the remaining 33 districts will be linked this year with constructions currently ongoing.

He also explained that the NICTBB cable is connected to international submarine cables including SEACOM, and EASSY, and will soon be connected to 2-AFRICA.

On his part, Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Hon. Jerry Silaa commended TTCL’s efforts in connecting neighboring countries like Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, and Zambia to the NICTBB cable.

Additionally, Hon. Silaa urged the organization to continue expanding the NICTBB cable to districts and connect to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to NICTBB via the Lake Tanganyika in Kigoma to the Kalemie region in DRC.

On his part, TTCL’s Director General Moremi Marwa highlighted: “Technology or communication is the foundation of development which brings benefits to society, especially in areas like health, education, tourism, agriculture, and other areas. TTCL in collaboration with the private sector has enabled communication that helps facilitate services to the community.”

Marwa further explained that TTCL has introduced the Faiba Mlangoni service, where citizens can access the internet and voice services directly via the NICTBB cable.

TTCL’s other strategic plans involve providing internet services in public spaces and has succeeded in providing internet services in the Mkapa Stadium, Mount Kilimanjaro, SGR stations, and university campuses.

Tanzania’s NICTBB

The National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) is a national fiber optic cable network being constructed by the Tanzanian government costing TZS 600 billion.

The backbone consists of approximately 7,910 km of fiber optic cable that connects all regions within Tanzania and provides cross-border connectivity to neighboring countries including Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.

Managed by TTCL, on behalf of the government,  NICTBB aims to enhance e-government, e-learning, e-health, and e-commerce applications for sustainable socio-economic development.