The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding communication services in rural Tanzania, with fresh efforts underway to strengthen network coverage in Kasulu Rural Constituency, Kigoma Region.
Speaking in Dodoma on April 28, 2026, the Deputy Minister for Information, Communications and Information Technology, Dr Switbert Zacharia Mkama, said the government has made steady progress in improving connectivity through strategic investments in communication infrastructure.
He was responding to a question from Kigoma Rural Member of Parliament, Edbily Kazala Kinyoma.
Dr Mkama said the government, through the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), has implemented several projects over the years, including the construction of communication towers in underserved areas.
He noted that in 2014, a communication tower was completed in Helu Ushingo Ward in partnership with YAS Tanzania, bringing services closer to residents of Seluhemebe and Helu villages who previously faced serious network challenges.
The expansion continued in 2021, when another tower was built in Mvinza Village, Kengarakanda Ward through collaboration between UCSAF and the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation Limited (TTCL), improving access to mobile services in surrounding communities.
Further gains were recorded in 2025 with the completion of a new tower in Sogeeni Kwiriba Village, St Nyerere Ward, implemented in partnership with Vodacom Tanzania.
The project has significantly widened network coverage and enhanced communication services in the area.
Despite the progress, Dr Mkama acknowledged that gaps still exist in some parts of Kasulu Rural. He said the government is now preparing to send experts to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the actual communication needs across different wards.
The assessment, he explained, will guide future planning and help prioritise areas that require urgent intervention. The findings will be incorporated into the national strategy for communication infrastructure development for the 2025–2030 period.
He stressed that expanding communication services remains a key priority for the government, as reliable connectivity plays a vital role in driving economic activities, improving access to services, and enhancing the overall quality of life.
The latest move signals a continued push to bridge the digital divide and ensure that rural communities are not left behind in Tanzania’s growing digital economy.
