The Tanzanian government has vowed to continue enhancing cybersecurity to ensure that citizens can engage in social and economic activities online safely. The pledge was made by the Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Mr. Jerry Silaa, during the opening of the Connect 2 Connect conference in Arusha yesterday. The event brought together local and international stakeholders in the communications sector.
“Tanzania is well-positioned in terms of cybersecurity, having made significant investments in this area. A dedicated unit within the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) focuses on combating communication piracy, overseeing cybersecurity issues, and coordinating safety measures across all sectors,” Minister Silaa stated.
“We have robust cybersecurity systems in place, and the government remains committed to ensuring that Tanzanians can conduct their online economic and social activities securely,” he added.
According to the recently released Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024, Tanzania ranks as the leading country in Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa. Tanzania has also been placed in Tier 1 of the Role Modeling category, alongside global leaders like the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. This elite status is awarded only to nations demonstrating exceptional dedication across all five cybersecurity pillars.
The GCI, currently in its fifth edition, evaluates countries based on five main criteria: cooperation, legal frameworks, technical measures, organizational structures, and capacity development. Introduced by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2015, the index is published every four years. The latest edition assessed the cybersecurity initiatives of 194 countries to help them identify areas for improvement and strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities.
Minister Silaa also highlighted that as of June 2024, there were 76.6 million subscriptions, marking a 4.3% increase from 73.4 million in March 2024 for SIM cards and fixed lines, including both person-to-person and machine-to-machine connections.
“The aim of this conference is to explore more efficient methods of digital connectivity, focusing not just on Internet access but also on providing reliable, fast, and affordable services to consumers,” he noted.
He emphasized the significance of the Internet in modern life, as many activities, including business and agriculture, rely on online connectivity. The minister also stressed the government’s commitment to expanding Internet connectivity, with 3G coverage at 89%, 4G at 83%, and 5G at 15% across the country.
In his remarks, Minister Silaa underscored the government’s efforts to establish communication towers in areas lacking services, thereby enhancing citizens’ access to telecommunications. “In May 2023, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, we launched an initiative to construct 758 towers through the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) to extend services to underserved regions,” he stated.