By
Alfred Zacharia
Inside a newly opened telecommunications outlet in Tanzania’s commercial
capital, customers queue to register SIM cards, transfer money and ask about
smartphones they can buy on credit.
The shop is one of 17 new Airtel Smart Shops launched across Dar es Salaam
by Airtel Tanzania, part of a broader push to bring digital communication and
financial services closer to customers in the country’s busiest economic hub.
The expansion reflects the rapid growth of Tanzania’s digital economy, where
mobile connectivity and mobile money have become central to daily life and
business.
“These Smart Shops are more than retail outlets,” said Charles Kamoto,
managing director of Airtel Tanzania, during the launch on Thursday. “They are
digital service hubs designed to improve the customer experience and bring a
wide range of services under one roof.”
Customers visiting the shops can register SIM cards, access technical
support, conduct transactions through Airtel Money, purchase smartphones and
obtain device financing.
Businesses can also access enterprise connectivity services and high-speed
internet.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, sits at the centre of the country’s
commercial activity. Millions of residents rely on mobile connectivity to run
businesses, send payments and access online services.
Government officials say expanding digital infrastructure in the city is
essential to sustaining economic growth.
Speaking at the launch, Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Communication
and Information Technology Angellah Jasmine Mbelwa Kairuki said investments in
telecommunications infrastructure are helping drive the country’s transition
toward a digital economy.
“Many economic activities today depend on digital systems,” Kairuki said.
“Payments, trade and services increasingly rely on technology.”
She said initiatives such as Airtel’s Smart Shops help expand access to
communication services and digital financial tools, particularly for small
businesses and young entrepreneurs.
The government is implementing the Tanzania Digital Economy Development
Strategy 2024–2034, a national roadmap that aims to increase internet access,
strengthen digital infrastructure and encourage innovation across sectors.
Private sector investment is expected to play a key role in achieving those
goals.
For telecommunications companies, the rising demand for data services and
mobile payments has created new opportunities for growth.
Kamoto said the new outlets form part of Airtel’s wider expansion strategy
under the company’s “Airtel Kila Kona” initiative, which aims to extend
reliable communication services across the country.
“Our goal is to ensure that connectivity reaches every corner of Tanzania,”
he said.
Alongside retail expansion, the company has been investing heavily in
network infrastructure. Airtel has expanded its nationwide 4G coverage and
introduced 5G services in selected locations to support faster internet speeds
and new digital applications.
These include emerging services such as digital education platforms, online
healthcare solutions and advanced financial technology tools.
Another milestone in Tanzania’s digital infrastructure development has been
the landing of the 2Africa Submarine Cable System along the country’s
coastline.
The subsea cable, one of the largest in the world, significantly increases
international bandwidth capacity and is expected to reduce long-term
connectivity costs while improving network resilience.
Airtel is also building a major data centre in the northern city of Arusha,
which the company says will strengthen national digital infrastructure and
improve service reliability.
Telecommunications operators increasingly see themselves not only as
connectivity providers but also as partners in economic development.
Small and medium-sized businesses, which form the backbone of Tanzania’s
economy, stand to benefit from improved connectivity and digital payment
systems.
Through mobile payment platforms and merchant tools, businesses can accept
digital transactions, manage operations more efficiently and reach customers
beyond their immediate locations.
Airtel Tanzania’s director of customer experience Adriana Lyamba said the new Smart Shops are part
of a broader effort to improve service delivery and reduce waiting times for
customers.
“Digital systems in these shops allow us to serve customers faster and more
efficiently,” Lyamba said. “They also reduce paperwork and improve the overall
service experience.”
She added that the retail expansion is happening alongside broader
investments in network infrastructure.
Financial inclusion remains another key focus.
Mobile money platforms such as Airtel Money have helped millions of
Tanzanians send and receive funds, pay bills, access small loans and conduct
everyday transactions without traditional bank accounts.
The new outlets also offer smartphone financing programmes intended to
expand device ownership and increase access to online services.
Affordable smartphones are widely seen as essential for participation in the
digital economy.
“Digital transformation is not just about infrastructure,” Kamoto said. “It
is about ensuring that people and businesses can fully participate in the
opportunities created by technology.”
Government officials say partnerships between the public and private sectors
will remain crucial as Tanzania continues to expand connectivity and digital
services nationwide.
For telecommunications companies, the growing network of Smart Shops
represents the front line of that transformation — bringing digital services
from infrastructure into everyday communities.
