National Information and Communications Technology Policy CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND STATUS 1.0 Introduction The National ICT Policy 2016 (NICTP 2016) is a result of the revision of the NICTP 2003. The NICTP 2003 has provided a national framework for ICTs to contribute effectively towards achieving national development goals and transform Tanzania into a knowledge-based society through the application of ICT. This policy has facilitated the development of the Tanzanian ICT industry over the past decade and created a broad range of economic and social activities. These developments have led to job creation, enhanced productivity and efficiency that led to increased ICT contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 1.5% in 2004 to 2.4% in 2013. Moreover, sector growth has increased from 17.4% of GDP in 2004 to 22.8% by 2013. This policy has been implemented for a period of more than ten years, a period in which the industry has witnessed major technological changes. The government has been making efforts to accommodate these changes. These include introduction of Converged Licensing Framework (CLF), migration from terrestrial analogue to digital television broadcasting, putting in place a National ICT Broadband Backbone, extension of telecommunication networks to rural communities and financial inclusion through mobile money innovation. One of the major initiatives that the government has pursued is the improvement of the ICT infrastructure to bridge the digital divide and lower the cost of communications. It is acknowledged that the development, deployment and utilization of ICTs within the economy and society, raise a number of challenges in infrastructure, safety, security, standardization, electronic service, local content development and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). However, legal framework to attract investments in the sector under public private partnership (PPP) arrangement as well as skills and leadership to champion the integration of ICTs in the socio-economic development process is also a challenge. To address the above challenges, the Government is reviewing the NICTP 2003 to spearhead the development of ICT in the country through a process that resulted in the formulation of NICTP 2016. The NICTP 2016 will make a desirable and appreciable impact on the country’s developmental process. This policy is based on the basic premise that: Tanzania’s accelerated development within the emerging information and digital age will not be possible without an ICT-driven development agenda. 1