The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has announced that digital airtime top-ups now account for 78% of all recharges in the country. This development comes ahead of a pilot phase aimed at discontinuing physical scratch cards from 1st January 2027. According to the TCRA, the remaining 22% of recharges are attributed to scratch cards. The authority reported these figures on 3 November 2026, citing data presented by five mobile operators at a recent stakeholders' meeting.
The pilot phase will cover all districts in Dar es Salaam and selected areas in four other regions, including Dodoma, Arusha, Mwanza, and Mbeya. Specifically, the pilot areas include Dodoma City, Chamwino, Kondoa Urban, and Kongwa in Dodoma; Arusha City, Arusha District, Meru, and Karatu in Arusha; Nyamagana, Ilemela, and Misungwi in Mwanza; and Mbeya City, Mbeya District, and Mbarali in Mbeya. The TCRA has assured that customers will be able to purchase airtime through various digital channels.
Customers will be able to buy airtime using mobile-money accounts, USSD menus, mobile applications, bank automated teller machines (ATMs), banking agents, and other authorised digital recharge platforms. This move is part of the government's efforts to expand cashless payments and digital financial services while reducing waste associated with physical recharge cards. The TCRA has advised customers to use existing scratch cards before the transition and familiarise themselves with digital alternatives.
To support the transition, public-awareness activities began on 1st October 2026. Customers in the pilot areas holding unused scratch cards after 1st January 2027 will need to contact their operators' customer-service centres or authorised outlets for assistance in redeeming them. The TCRA has also reported that digital recharges allow customers to choose amounts according to their needs, while providing transaction records and reducing operators' physical-card printing and distribution costs.
As of September 2026, Tanzania had 123,204,333 mobile subscriptions and 93,901,761 mobile-money accounts. This represents approximately 76% of mobile subscriptions. The TCRA attributes the growth in digital airtime top-ups to the increasing adoption of mobile-money services and the convenience of digital transactions.
The nationwide discontinuation date for physical scratch cards will be announced later, according to the TCRA's public notice dated 8th October 2026. The authority has assured that the transition will be implemented in a phased manner to minimise disruptions to customers. The move is expected to promote a more cashless and digitally driven economy in Tanzania.
The TCRA's efforts to phase out physical scratch cards align with the government's broader goals of promoting digital financial inclusion and reducing electronic waste. With a significant majority of airtime top-ups already being digital, the transition is expected to be smooth, with minimal impact on customers. The authority remains committed to supporting customers through the transition and ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to use digital airtime recharge options effectively.
Key points
- Digital airtime top-ups now account for 78% of all recharges in Tanzania.
- The pilot phase to discontinue physical scratch cards will start on 1st January 2027 in selected areas.
- Customers will be able to purchase airtime through various digital channels, including mobile-money accounts and banking agents.
