One day after the Business Monitor International released their report on the negative effects of lack of rural coverage to telecommunication, the government has come to assure its commitment to the telecommunication sector.
Minister for Communication, Science and Technology, Prof Makame Mbarawa, said that, “the government is committed to see communication services reaching remote areas as a way of facilitating development.”
The Business Monitor International highlighted the high price of rural coverage and the fact that most profit by telecoms comes from urban areas, are factors that hinder growth in the country.
This has affected the penetration rate of mobility to less than 60 percent, whereas fixed landlines still thrive in the country.
The government, the minister said, would use the Universal Communication Access Fund (UCAF) to improve telecommunication with companies in the industry.
“The government has already signed agreements with four services providers to construct communication towers in rural areas,” he added. The agreements were signed in March this year to a tune of 21 billion Tanzania shillings.