National Information and Communications Technology Policy PREFACE Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the bedrock for national economic development in a rapidly changing global environment. Nations that have embraced ICT and made it an important aspect of their national agenda have reaped benefits in terms of social economic development. The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania recognizes that effective use of information and knowledge is a critical factor for rapid socio-economic growth, in its aspiration to become a middle-income country by 2025. To guide Tanzania in the utilization of ICTs, the Government has been setting policy frameworks. The National ICT Policy formulated in 2003 has enabled Tanzania to attain successes in the areas of telecommunications, infrastructure development, human capital development and use of ICT in service delivery to citizens. Despite these successes, the ICT landscape has changed since 2003, requiring a relook at the Policy framework to reposition Tanzania to better meet emerging opportunities while contending with their associated threats. These developments challenge us to devise bold and courageous initiatives to address issues such as reliable infrastructure, skilled human resources, open governance, security as well as legal and institutional frameworks. Pursuant to realizing significant ICT potential for development and addressing its challenges, the Government has reviewed the National ICT Policy of 2003 (NICTP 2003) and came up with the National ICT Policy 2016, which provides a comprehensive framework for guiding the development and growth of the industry to ensure optimal benefits to the nation and its citizens. The National ICT Policy 2016 is formulated within the context of national vision statements guided by the Tanzania Development Vision 2025, which recognizes that ICT is central to a competitive social and economic transformation by stating: “These technologies are a major driving force for the realization of the Vision. They should be harnessed persistently in all sectors of the economy… “…This task demands that adequate investments are made to improve the quality of science-based education and to create a knowledge-based society in general.” vii