Operator Tigo Tanzania has announced the launch of what it calls a first-of-its-kind fibre-to-home and fibre-to-office internet service that is designed to enable consumers and businesses to have access to reliable, low-latency and high-speed internet for households and businesses.
The operator says the launch of the Tigo Fibre service effectively positions it as the first telecoms operator in Tanzania to launch fibre to the home and office in the local telecoms market – offering what it says are competitive prices. The service will first be available in Mbweni town and its environs in Dar es Salaam and later in other parts of the country.
It looks like Tigo owner pan-African group Axian, which bought Tigo from Millicom in April 2022, is trying to make good on its investment promise for the business.
However, this isn’t just a busy time for Tigo in Tanzania’s mobile market. According to news service ITWeb Africa, Tanzania's largest telecom operator, Vodacom, recently acquired a much smaller operator, Smile Communications Tanzania, for US$27 million.
The agreement gives Vodacom access to Smile's 800MHz and mid-band spectrum. Vodacom will also use Smile's 4G LTE countrywide mobile broadband network.
Smile's spectrum will be added to the frequencies that Vodacom acquired in Tanzania for US$63.2 million, in October 2022, to access to the 700MHz, 2.3GHz, and 2.6GHz bands. ITWeb Africa reports that Vodacom Tanzania's spectrum holdings include 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, and 3500MHz.
While up-to-date figures are hard to come by, Vodacom reportedly had 19.1 million mobile users in Q4 2023, representing a 30% market share. with Airtel and Tigo not far behind on around 17.5 million.
