National Information and Communications Technology Policy
3.2.3.1 Policy Objective
To have universal access to ICT products and services in order to bridge the
digital divide.
3.2.3.2
Policy Statement
The Government shall:i)
Ensure availability of funds for supporting rural ICT investment;
ii)
Strengthen collaboration with service providers to participate in
rural ICT investments;
iii) Ensure access to ICT products and services to society;
iv) Encourage financial institutions and development partners to give
particular support on investments in rural ICT services.
3.3 Frequency Spectrum and Other Scarce ICT Resources
3.3.1
Issue: Frequency Spectrum
Mobility is a dominant telecommunications services feature in Tanzania
as compared to fixed telecommunications services. As per TCRA, mobile
services subscription base in December 2014 reached 99.53% of all
telephony subscription in Tanzania. Other services such as access to
broadcasting and satellite services in various areas of the country also
demand spectrum resources. Spectrum is a bloodline for provisioning of
mobile telecommunications services. Existence of both public and private
owned telecommunications companies providing mobile services relies on
spectrum, a wireless communication resource. Spectrum is a key scarce public
ICT resources that goes to waste if not efficiently used and managed, and
therefore there is need to recognize it in the sectoral policies for guaranteeing
sustainable future of ICT services provisioning in the country.
Past efforts made by the Government on this issue include enactment of
the Electronic and Postal Communications Act (EPOCA) in 2010 to guide
assignment, management and regulation of spectrum resources. TCRA
is responsible for management and assignment of spectrum and other
telecommunications resources. Despite these achievements, the industry
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