Speaker calls for full use of ICT infrastructure

THE National Assembly Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson has underscored the need of fully utilisation of the national fibre optic cable and postcodes services, in attaining the digital economy agenda 2025.

The Speaker commended the government’s efforts in making communication available to the majority of Tanzanians through National ICT Broadband Backbone, while also calling upon the public to use the facilities for economic gains.

Dr Ackson gave the remarks at the Bunge grounds here yesterday, during the exhibition on the various services offered by institutions under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology.

The exhibitions were staged ahead of the ministry’s budget estimates for the 2022/2023 financial year, scheduled to be tabled in the House today.

Dr Tulia said the public should use the ICT facilities to bring changes and use the data which can be accessed by majority even in rural communities to benefit from the government investment. She challenged the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) the National ICT Broadband Backbone remains intact.

“TTCL must ensure national ICT optic cable infrastructure is fixed to enable the majority of Tanzanians to enjoy the use of data and other reliable communication services, to gain from the digital economy opportunities for economic growth,” she said.

Speaker Tulia was impressed by the exhibitors’ activities in which, the Tanzania Standard (Newspapers) Limited (TSN) was among the participants. The state-owned media company displayed a variety of its products including newspapers, e-papers and commercial printing products.

During the exhibition, Mr Felix Mushi, TSN’s Marketing Sales and Distribution Manager, who represented the company’s Director of Business Development said the government has injected more than 30bn/-, invested in a number of projects, including state-of- the- art commercial printing for increased efficiency and productivity.

Mr Mushi said TSN commercial printing, one of its kinds in East and Central Africa, will be operating in full capacity by November this year.

“We thank the government for investing and trusting TSN for more growth and increased productivity,” he said.

“We are optimistic that come November 2023, the commercial printing will be operating in fully capacity,” said Mr Mushi

He underscored the need for Members of Parliament to register for E-paper applications, thus being ahead in accessing the TSN newspapers at half price.

Mr Mushi also urged the parliamentarian to access other promotion materials assuring them of quality and standards.