Tanzania Subscriber Base to Jump 25% in Six Months

Tanzania Regulatory Authority (TCRA) Director General, John Nkomasays that he expects the number of mobile phone users in the country will jump by 25% to 13 million by the middle of next year.

"Hardly four years ago we were less than two million. Towards the middle of 2009, we should easily reach 13 million," he said.

The regulator awarded two additional licenses last week - to local firms, MyCell and Egotel for both landline and mobile services. Existing operator, Zain was also granted a licence to install an international gateway. There are now five companies licensed to offer international dialing services in the country.

According to figures from the Mobile World subscriber tracker, the country ended the first half of this year with just under 10.1 million customers - representing a population penetration level of 26%.

On the web: Tanzania Regulatory Authority - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 30th November 2008