Nape issues directives on installation of communication towers
KAGERA: THE Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye has directed the Tanzania Rural Roads Agency (TARURA) and Tanzania Rural Electricity Agency (REA) to work closely with local authorities in the process of installing communication towers especially in rural areas.
Equally, he has tasked councils in areas where the communication towers were being installed to ensure that the infrastructures are safeguarded and avoid vandalising them because they cost millions of taxpayers’ money.
He made the remarks recently during his tour in Kagera region where he visited several areas in Muleba and Biharamulo districts where the communication towers have been installed warning that the vandals of the towers’ infrastructures would be dragged to court.
“President Samia Suluhu Hassan is doing a wonderful job to ensure that all Tanzanians are reached by the communication sector.
These efforts should be supported and each one of us must ensure that the towers’ infrastructures are safeguarded and avoid vandalising them because they cost millions of taxpayers’ money,” he said.
Elaborating, Mr Nape said the government is implementing a big project involving the installation of 758 communication towers in 713 districts in Mainland Tanzania, a project that will cost over 200bn/- upon completion by March next year.
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He also appealed to Regional Commissioners (RCs) and District Commissioners (DCs) to assist in getting suitable areas where the communication towers will be installed and should also protect the infrastructures from being vandalised because some of the towers were located in peripheral areas.
“The installation of communication towers has much benefits. Most of the government services were being channeled through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) including the issuance of passports, identity cards and banking services.
Pillars leading to digital economy include availability of services, quality services, affordability, safety and impact,” he said.
Bukoba District Commissioner (DC) Erasto Sima, on behalf of the Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC) Fatma Mwassa informed him that several villages bordering neighbouring countries were facing frequent interference in communication networks.
Kagera Region borders four East African Community (EAC) nations namely Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Kenya across Lake Victoria.
He also said the Burigi – Chato National Park was inadequately covered by network services thus negatively affecting attractive investments.
Last year, President Samia Suluhu Hassan witnessed the signing of two contracts worth 275bn/- (USD 122 million) for the construction of 758 communication towers in 713 districts in Mainland Tanzania.
The contractors will also upgrade the capacity of 304 towers which now offer 2G internet to 3G, 4G or more.
The deals signed in Dodoma involved the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), and telecom companies operating in Tanzania and are aimed at ensuring the availability of communication services in rural and urban under-served areas.
The telecom companies involved in the initiative include Vodacom, Airtel, TTCL, TIGO and Halotel.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, President Samia said that the implementation of the project is an important step towards the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) which is a basic factor towards the digital economy.
“The completion of these projects will greatly help to increase the national income due to the increase in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTSs) and communication in other sectors.
She added: “The more rural people use networks, the more they get informed on their various activities, solve their problems and increase production.
Now we are engaging in agriculture that involves youths in the country and it is youths who use these networks more than others.
We promote mobile usage and increase productivity,” The Head of State also instructed the Tanzania Rural Energy Agency (REA) to provide electricity to all areas with communication towers, which will prevent telecommunication companies from incurring high expenses on generators.
