Govt gives TTCL 3 months to raise 112bn

SUNDAY NEWS REPORTER

THE Minister for Works, Transport and Communication, Professor Makame Mbarawa, has issued a three-month ultimatum to the Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) to make sure that it raises 50 million US dollars (112bn/-) through the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB).

The Minister issued the directive in Kagera Region, insisting that the money is obtainable because the government increased frequencies to the telecom company from 10MHZ to 200MHZ that can connect more customers.

Prof Mbarawa equally urged mobile phone companies to grab the opportunity in getting frequencies through NICTBB. “Make sure that you get the money within three months and do business with local and international companies as well as adding the number of your customers,’’ he insisted.

Prof Mbarawa asked TTCL officials to widen communication strategies with their customers, to lobby them so that they can purchase the frequencies to widen their business scope and help the company to acquire more profit. TTCL Kagera Regional Manager, Mr Salum Mbaya assured the Minister that his team will begin visiting local and international customers so as to give them information on the extended ability of the National ICT Broadband, in a bid to convince them to buy the frequencies.

According to Mr Mbaya, the countries that had already been connected to the national broadband were Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya and Malawi.

In another development, Prof Mbarawa visited the Bukoba Airport where he promised to find solutions for challenges at the airport including the construction of the control tower, so as to intensify security and efficiency at the airport.

Kagera Regional Manager of the Tanzania Airports Authority (TAA), Ms Dorice Uhagile said there has been increase of customers since the country purchased aircrafts, but she was quick to point out that there were some challenges that required immediate solutions.

Professor Mbarawa is on an official working tour of Kagera Region to inspect various development projects that are being implemented through his docket.