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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