Airtel Tanzania has strengthened its position as the country’s leading fixed
internet provider, even as rising broadband demand continues to transform how
Tanzanians work, trade and communicate in both formal and informal economies.
Latest data
from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority shows that Airtel
recorded 213,010 fixed internet subscriptions in the quarter ending March 2026,
making it the market leader in a segment that is rapidly becoming central to
the country’s digital growth.
Vodacom
followed with 114,109 subscriptions, while TTCL recorded 63,843 subscriptions.
Overall, Tanzania reached 507,893 fixed internet subscriptions during the
period, giving Airtel nearly 42 per cent market share.
The figures
confirm a broader shift in the telecoms sector, where operators are moving
beyond mobile voice and data services into home and enterprise broadband
connectivity.
According to
the report, total internet subscriptions in Tanzania rose from 58.1 million in
December 2025 to 58.9 million in March 2026, while internet usage increased by
15.3 per cent. Mobile broadband remains dominant, with 34.3 million
subscriptions, but fixed internet is growing steadily as demand rises for
stable, high-capacity connections.
Airtel’s
growth reflects this shift, as more customers adopt fixed and wireless
broadband for home use, business operations, education and digital
entertainment.
The company
says the trend is being driven by rising data consumption and a growing need
for reliable connectivity.
Airtel
Tanzania Corporate Communications and Regulatory Affairs Director, Beatrice
Agnes Singano, said the company’s expansion in fixed broadband reflects
changing customer needs across the country.
“We are
seeing strong demand for stable internet that supports business, learning and
daily digital activity. Our investment in broadband infrastructure is aimed at
ensuring customers get reliable and affordable connectivity,” she said.
She added
that internet use in Tanzania is no longer limited to communication, but is now
central to income generation and business growth.
This
transformation is visible in places like Vingunguti Machinjioni in Dar es
Salaam, where digital connectivity has become part of everyday trading life.
At the
Kumbilamoto Nyama Choma Market, a modern government-built commercial hub in
Ilala District, internet access is now as important as food and fuel for
business activity.
The market
hosts more than 232 small entrepreneurs, including over 25 meat roasting
vendors and more than 56 food sellers known as Mama Lishe. In the evenings, it
turns into a busy social and entertainment centre.
Within this
environment, internet access has created a new micro-economy powered by Airtel
5G routers.
One of the
users is 32-year-old Carlos Makuka, who runs an Airtel 5G router hotspot
service inside the market.
He bought the
router from an Airtel Tanzania Smart Shop for Sh100,000. The device can connect
up to 64 users, but he limits connections to maintain speed and quality.
On average,
he serves between 45 and 52 users daily, charging Sh2,000 per person.
“I connect
fewer users so that the internet remains fast. People don’t just need access,
they need speed at a fair cost,” he says.
For many
traders, the service has reduced internet expenses while improving business
visibility.
Food vendor
Mama Neema says affordable internet has changed how she operates her business.
“I use the
internet without limits for only Sh2,000. I post my food online and receive
orders from customers around this area,” she says.
She also uses
the internet to search for cooking ideas and improve how she serves customers
in a more modern way.
The impact is
also visible among professionals working remotely.
James
Salvatory, a journalist with Torch Media, says the Airtel 5G router has
significantly reduced his monthly internet costs.
“I use the
internet every day for digital media work. It is cheaper and more convenient,”
he says.
He notes that
his monthly internet spending has dropped from more than Sh150,000 to about
Sh70,000 since adopting the service.
Across
Tanzania, such cases reflect a wider trend where fixed and wireless broadband
is becoming more affordable and more deeply integrated into daily life.
The TCRA
report shows rising digital consumption, driven by streaming platforms, online
work, digital learning and social media.
In March
alone, Tanzanians consumed 173.1 million GB of fixed internet data, up from
148.7 million GB in February. YouTube led OTT traffic with 80,319 GB, followed
by Facebook and TikTok.
Telecom
operators are now investing heavily in infrastructure to support this surge.
The country had 10,084 telecom towers by March 2026, with Dar es Salaam
accounting for 1,242.
5G expansion
is also accelerating, with base stations increasing by 44 per cent to 1,804
sites and population coverage rising to 32.83 per cent.
For Tanzania,
the direction is clear. Internet access is no longer only a communications
tool. It is becoming an economic driver, from corporate offices to smoky
evening markets like Kumbilamoto, where a simple router is now powering small
businesses, journalism and everyday survival.
