New Tanzania Mobile 3G Network License Granted To Vietnam-Based Operator

Vietnam-based telecommunications operator Viettel has been granted a license to build a new 3G mobile network in Tanzania and will compete with the four primary Tanzania mobile operators: Vodacom Tanzania, Bharti Airtel, Tigo Tanzania, and Zantel. According to the Tanzania deputy communication, science and technology minister, January Makamba, construction of the new network is in line with the Government’s plan for digital inclusion and will begin next month with mobile services scheduled to launch in July 2015. Hon. Makamba went on to indicate that Viettel will focus construction of its 13,000 km fibre cable network on rural areas where approximately 4,000 villages that are currently without a network will be covered by 2016. “We've also asked Viettel to deliver fibre to 150 district hospitals, 150 district government offices, 65 post offices and 500 secondary schools,” he said in a recent interview with Reuters. The Tanzania telecoms sector currently serves 28.88 million mobile subscribers with an 8,000 km network and a 64% penetration. Viettel currently operates in Asia, Latin America and Africa, with 60 million subscribers and USD 7 billion in its 2012 reported revenues.