The Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) is preparing a project to address persistent connectivity challenges along the SGR route. The move follows passengers' complaints about poor access to mobile phone and internet services despite the railway's modern infrastructure. According to UCSAF director general Albert Mwakabwale, efforts to find a solution have encountered implementation challenges.
The initial intervention will cover the Dar es Salaam–Dodoma section, with plans to extend improvements to other routes as construction of the SGR network progresses. The project aims to improve access to voice calls and internet services for passengers. This initiative is part of UCSAF's broader efforts to extend telecommunications infrastructure to underserved communities, particularly rural areas.
Under Phase 11A of its communications expansion programme, 198 locations have been identified for improved coverage, up from the 80 initially indicated in the budget document. Preparations are underway to sign contracts with service providers to facilitate implementation. Another 82 locations are expected to be included in a subsequent tender scheduled for January or February 2027.
The government is also supporting the upgrading of existing mobile communication towers from second-generation (2G) technology to third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) services. This intervention seeks to address gaps in rural areas where residents can make telephone calls but have limited access to internet services due to outdated network infrastructure.
UCSAF's November 2026 implementation report shows that 2,199 of the 2,324 communication towers planned across 31 regions in Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar have been completed. The infrastructure has extended coverage to 2,053 of the targeted 2,306 wards. A separate programme involving 758 towers has been completed, benefiting 713 wards and an estimated 8.5 million people.
The government aims to extend communication services to all inhabited areas by 2030, although achieving universal coverage will require further investment, particularly in locations where commercial returns may not justify infrastructure development. The project cost for the completed towers was Sh126 billion. Another 287 towers are under construction under the programme's 10th phase, backed by an allocation of Sh29 billion.
In a related development, the government has allocated Sh15.3 billion through UCSAF to construct and upgrade 37 transmission sites for Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) radio services. The project is intended to improve signal reception and extend access to the national broadcaster's programmes across the country. 11 sites have been completed, while construction work is continuing at the remaining locations.
Key points
- The project aims to improve access to voice calls and internet services for passengers along the SGR route.
- The government aims to extend communication services to all inhabited areas by 2030.
- The project cost for the completed towers was Sh126 billion.
