Internet connection expenses for higher learning institutes to be halved

By Sylivester Domasa

Prof Makame Mbarawa, Minister for Communication, Science and Technology

Internet connection expenses for universities and other high learning institutions  as well as research centres will be halved when they are connected to the national ICT broadband backbone in the coming few months.

 

Speaking at the official launch of the Higher Education and Research Institution Network (HERIN) yesterday in Dar es Salaam, Minister for Communication, Science and Technology Prof Makame Mbarawa decried the fact that currently, universities and other higher learning institutions spend more than 5m/- every month in internet expenses. 

 

He said the launched network facility will serve to enhance sharing of resources, exchange of information and the development of joint projects among local and international institutes.

 

“As the first phase comes to completion, the project aims at connecting 28 higher education and research institutions to the national ICT broadband backbone and cut their monthly connection and data expenses by more than half the current amount,” he announced. 

 

Prof Mbarawa placed the expected connectivity and data cost after connection to the national ICT broadband backbone at an estimated 2m/- a month.

 

“The project will end the long standing isolation of Tanzanian higher education institutions from the international education and research community,” he added. Vice Chancellor for Open University of Tanzania, Prof Tolly Mbwette said the project will increase efficiency among higher education and research institutions in the country.

 

As such, he took the time to urge other institutions that have not yet been connected to the network to ensure they do so to ‘promote quality education for their students and lecturers’ he said.

 

Present at the launch was, Gaspar Harrison, the Project Coordinator from the Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology who explained that actually the project is running behind schedule.

 

That it was supposed to have been completed within a five months period but more than a year down the road, it is still being finalized, he said pointing out that as a result of the delayed completion, the project has incurred additional costs that were not budgeted for. He explained the delay to have been no human fault but rather, according to him, caused by persistence long rains and ongoing road constructions in the city.

 

Speaking at the same event, World Bank Country Director Phillipe Dongier announced the approval of an additional of USD15m to see the project to completion.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN