UCSAF forks out 85bn/- for rural internet links

SYLIVESTER DOMASA in Dodoma

UCSAF Chief Executive Officer, Eng Peter Ulanga (centre), shows locations already linked with mobile connectivity to members of the Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure, during the committee’s ongoing meeting in Dodoma, yesterday. Right is Mr Dua Nara and Ms Rita Kabati. (Photo by Sylivester Domasa)

THE Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) has spent over 85bn/- linking rural villages with communication network facilities as part to allow every individual access services across the country.

Deputy Minister for Work, Transport and Communication Engineer Edwin Ngonyani announced this here yesterday when he tabled the fund’s report before the parliamentary standing committee on infrastructure.

“This is to ensure that high-quality communication is made available to many parts of the country … especially rural areas,” he said. Since its inception in 2013, about 443 wards and 1,939 villages have benefited from the fund.

He said the Fund entered into agreement with local mobile companies to develop mobile networks in 75 wards covering some 154 villages, and that, with the latest developments, 94 per cent of the population now has access to communications services across the country.

Since the government signed contract with Halotel in November two years ago, about 3,069 out of 4,000 villages are now connected -- and have easy access -- to communication services.

The remaining villages are expected to be covered before December this year, according to government statement. The committee’s vice-chairman, Mr Moshi Kakoso, urged telecom companies receiving government subside to ensure they link all villages and rural communities which are identified as non-commercial. However, he said UVSAF must rename all telecom towers built with government funding, in part, to allow the people identify potential government contribution towards improving mobile communication.

Engineer Angelina Madete, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry (Communications) assured the legislators that the ministry, through the Fund, will make sure all citizen across the country have access to communication services as stipulated in the Fund’s core objectives.

UCSAF Chief Executive Officer Engineer Peter Ulanga has meanwhile announced that his office would work with the regional administration and local authorities -- as well as the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) -- to review all works conducted by local telecom companies in relation to linking rural communities with communication services.