Summary
·
The
government and other players need to put more effort into making sure internet
penetration and use increases
Dar es Salaam. Stakeholders and telecom companies have urged the government of Tanzania to
put more effort into speeding up internet adaptability in day-to-day activities so as to achieve a digital economy by 2025.Speaking at Mwananchi Thought
Leadership Forum on 'Digital Transformation for a Sustainable and Inclusive
Future" earlier today, on Tuesday, June 20, Vodacom Tanzania's Managing
Director, Philip Besiimire, said that in order to keep up with the speed of
technology that is growing by the day, the government and other players need to
put more effort into making sure internet penetration and use increases.
Mr. Bisiimire suggested that, for
starters, government solutions and social service delivery need to be
digitalized end to end.
"For people to be able to use
digital technologies, these technologies need to solve problems and be applied
to their day-to-day activities. In order for people to access internet
services, they must possess a smart phone. The government should look at how to
remove obstacles, such as the high cost of mobile phones, for people to
afford," said Mr Besiimire,
Smartphone penetration is higher in
urban areas than in rural areas, with one of the hindrances being literacy and
affordability.
Reports show the majority of people,
especially the older generation, struggle to use smartphones, while those with
little education are wary of such technologies.
"The majority own dumbphones
because they are easily accessible and sold at lower prices, and most people
are still ignorant of the use of the internet," noted Joyce Msigwa, A
primary school teacher.
But experts say that when digital
technologies better meet the needs of people, households, and firms, demand for
their use also increases, making internet expansion more commercially viable,
which in turn supports an effective digitally transformed economy.
Mr. Besiimire further explained that
many services must be provided digitally, citing as an example travel documents
applications, where the process starts digitally, including application and
initial payment, followed by non-digital steps that require an applicant to
visit immigration offices physically and queuing for further steps.
"If we want to succeed in
achieving a digital economy by 2025, the entire process needs to be
digitalized. From application, payment, collection, and delivery
processes," adds Besimiire.
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