Policy Statement
Tanzania

Mr. Chairman,
Honourable Ministers,
Secretary General of the ITU,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
 
On behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and my delegation allow me to first extend our appreciation to the Government of Mexico for hosting this conference and for the hospitality extended to us in this beautiful city of Guadalajara since our arrival.
 
Secondly, I would like to express our congratulations to you, Mr. Chairman on your election to chair this, 18th Plenipotentiary meeting of the ITU as well  joining  the voices of those who have already expressed gratitudes for the Secretary General, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the elected officials, management and staff of the ITU for successfully convening this conference and for the work they have done for the past four years in spearheading the Union towards meeting its objectives.
 
Mr. Chairman,

In Tanzania we have embraced the new technological developments and have put in place an ICT policy and implementation has enabled us to make extra-ordinary progress, particular coming up with a vibrant licensing framework which not only is technologically and services neutral, but has expanded avenue, of allowing small Tanzania investors to participate in building an ICT infrastructure, operate networks and deploy new services on a small scale. This move is intended to serve as the catalyst for stimulating the growth not only in the ICT industry, but the overall economy.
 
 
Mr. Chairman,

Since we have adopted policy framework for convergence and leverage on the ICT in our effort to uplift the socio - economic well-beings of our people, we have seen some moderate success and  We are happy to share our experience with our fellow ITU members. We are proud to state that our ICT policy, legal framework, converged licensing framework and strategies to guide the sector have paid the following great dividends.

• Our initial forecast in 1997 was to have a teledensity of 6 percent by the year 2020, but today our teledensity stands at 43 percent.
  
• The number of mobile telephone operators has increased from two in 1997 to seven currently operating and four are at different stages of deploying networks.
  
• Subscription for mobile users has increased from 284,100 in 2000 to the present figure of over 18 million.
  
• Internet services have increased from 0.06% in 1994 to 12% today. Thanks to the governments deliberate strategy of public-private partnership and incentives to the private sector to invest in this area.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tanzania has 945,000 square kilometres and eighty five percent of our population lives in rural areas and the majority have no access to basic communications infrastructure. Economic viability of deployment of ICT infrastructure in the sparsely populated areas and difficult terrain is limited. To address these challenges, the Government has established the Universal Communications Access Fund (UCAF) where both the Government and all the operators will contribute to this Fund. This fund will support operators in deployment of ICT infrastructure and services to rural areas and un-served areas.
 
Mr. Chairman,

It is 26 years since the launch of the Maitland Report (‘The Missing Link’) in Arusha, Tanzania, where issues of the telecommunication gaps between the rich and poor, urban and rural were identified and ways and means were proposed on how to tackle them. This was a crucial issue for ITU to continue addressing the serious gap between developed countries and the poor Developing Countries of the South.
 
Mr. Chairman,

We are attending this conference for the first time after our Eastern and Southern Countries have been connected with Submarine Cables. This is one of Africa’s efforts to try to bridge the digital divide and secure reliable communications at affordable cost. However, in order for Tanzania to benefit from ICT development of its health, education and public services sector, the country needs to have a reliable infrastructure. Efforts are now underway to develop fibre cables within the entire country and link up with her eight neighbouring countries.
 
Mr. Chairman,

Finally, I wish to reiterate that Tanzania is committed to co-operate and share with other Member States, the ITU Secretariat and the regional offices to make ITU an eminent international body that plays an important role in enhancing development of all member countries; as such Tanzania has put its candidature to the seat of the Council representing Region D.
 
Mr. Chairman,

on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, and my delegation, I would like to once again express my profound gratitude to the Government of Mexico for hosting this remarkable conference, and wish success in its deliberations.