SUMMARY: The industry regulator and a leading telecom company have sought to explain the relatively low internet speeds in Tanzania;
There are business challenges in the telecomms market where for a while the competition has centred on lowering the cost of services as a way of capturing market share.
A survey by Ookla – a web service that provides free analysis of internet access performance metrics such as connection data rate and latency – analysed the performance of operator groups, including Airtel, Orange, MTN and Vodacom, in sub-Saharan Africa during the second quarter of 2022.
MTN South Africa delivered the fastest median download speed at 65.95 megabits per second (Mbps), followed by Vodacom South Africa at 48.71 Mbps, according to the report.
Vodacom Tanzania was ranked 16th at 17.08 Mbps, while Airtel Tanzania was ranked 18th at 12.89 Mbps.
Vodacom Tanzania was ahead of only Airtel Rwanda (15.21 Mbps); Airtel Tanzania, Airtel DR Congo (11.15 Mbps); Vodacom DR Congo (8 Mbps) and MTN Guinea (2.89 Mbps) among operators involved in the survey.
“In Tanzania, there was no clear winner as Vodacom won the download speed and Airtel the upload,” the report said.
Airtel and Vodacom’s upload speed stood at 9.02 Mbps and 8.62 Mbps, respectively.
Tanzania’s mobile market is served by six operators, namely Vodacom, Airtel, Tigo, Halotel, TTCL and Smile, but only two featured in Ookla’s report.
Vodacom Tanzania accounted for 31 percent of the 56.2 million subscribers that were registered by June 2022, followed by Airtel at 27 percent, according the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).Vodacom Tanzania network director Andrew Lupembe told The Citizen at the weekend that download speeds could be improved further by investment in capacity.
He said there are business challenges in the market where for a while the competition has centred on lowering the cost of services as a way of capturing market share.
This, added Mr Lupembe, necessitated the regulator’s intervention and introduce the data floor pricing, with price harmonisation coming into effect on August 1.
“We are not there yet and this is one of the most critical things to look at if this market is to have the speeds available in other countries such as Kenya.
“To address the speeds, we need to correct data pricing that will allow investment and build network capacity,” Mr Lupembe said.
At Vodacom, he added, there are ongoing engagements regarding tariffs that will open opportunities for accelerated investment in the country.
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Mr Lupembe expressed the company’s commitment to continue investing in network expansion to address the communications need in the country.
To further increase its network reach, in May 2022, Vodacom Tanzania signed a deal with the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB), a national fiber optic cable network.
This will allow Vodacom to increase rural connectivity after an initial investment of €5.82 million ($6.22 million) in October 2021.
Furthermore, in September 2022, Vodacom launched 5G mobile service in Dar es Salaam with a target to expand to approximately 230 locations in other cities.
Asked on why the firm should not focus on improving their current 2G, 3G and 4G instead of rushing to launch 5G, Mr Lupembe said 5G has different use cases that prompted them to pursue it.
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
ACT Unaware of Mwinyi’s joint committee on Zanzibar reforms
Opposition party ACT Wazalendo has said it is not aware of a special committee on reforms and has directed the party’s leadership to follow up on the decision of the Central Committee which directed its leaders to meet with President Hussein Ali Mwinyi.Continue Reading