OVER 100 villages in border areas are set to benefit with communications services, thanks to an agreement between a mobile telecommunication firm, Halotel Tanzania and the Universal Communication Services Access Fund (UCSAF).
Under the agreement Halotel, in partnership with UCSAF install 47 new towers throughout the country to support government’s initiatives of extending telecommunication services in rural areas.
Speaking during the launch of one of the newly constructed towers in Gairo Municipality, Morogoro Region recently, Halotel Tanzania Deputy Director for Engineering and Technical, Trieu Thanh Binh said that the company was committed to honour agreements entered with the government to ensure the goal to connect rural areas with communications services is attained.
The launch was officiated by Tanzania Minister for Works, Transport and Communications, Prof Makame Mbarawa “We are working towards supplying communications services to over 100 villages. We have also agreed to focus on villages situated in border areas of the country and to those not accessed easily.
And to the areas that have not been reached with our services, we’d like to assure you that they will be covered in time so as to go with the current government’s pace in implementing her priorities,” said Binh.
“It is our goal to extend the best communications services to the identified areas. We have a plan to cover the whole country with our services and accomplish UCSAF’s mission as agreed This will add the value of our investment up to 1.6 billion USD.”
According to Binh, some of the areas being targeted include Endambelek and Mbulumbulu in Karatu Municipality – Arusha Region and Iyogelo, Kasubuya, Nyalubele, Nyaluguguna and Nyinjudu villages that are all situated in Nyangwale Municipality – Geita Region.
Other villages mentioned in the plan are Chanjale, Ngujini and Songoa located in Mwanga Municipality in Kilimanjaro region as well as Kilimanihewa, Mazoezi, Mtepeche, Nampemba in Nachingwea Municipality in Lindi region and Chauru, Mhata, Mirewe and Nambombwe.
In addition, Kikaro, Kweikonje, Masimbani, Mihunga and Miono villages located in Bagamoyo Municipality in Pwani Region are also in the plan. Meanwhile, villages in Kilondo, Lumbila and Lupingu Divisions in Ludewa Municipality, as well as Ipelele and Lupila of Makete Municipality in Njombe region among others have already been provided with communications services.
For his part, Prof Makame Mbarawa urged the Halotel Tanzania to ensure it completes that project on time, adding that the government would still be regulating and offering a conducive environment to all telecom companies to partner with UCSAF.
Prof Mbarawa also argued Tanzanians to take good care of the communications facilities through adhering to the rules and regulations set by authorities. “We a government, we would like to guarantee quality, equal and speedy communications services to all Tanzanians. In return, we expect them to make well use the services in a lawful way,” said the Minister.
Prof. Mbarawa added that to accomplish the goal of making Tanzania an industrial nation, communications infrastructures are of great significance especially in areas rich in natural resources.
On his side, the Director for UCSAF, Eng. Peter Ulanga said that the Fund has a goal to ensure all areas of the country are covered with quality communications services. He assured to continue offering to work with all the telecom companies to achieve that goal collectively.
Since the start of its operations in Tanzania, Halotel has managed to secure over three and a half million subscribers across the country. It boasts of having covered most of the rural areas than any other telecom company with affordable and quality communications services.
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