The increasing demand for internet access in Tanzania is opening up new business and income opportunities for individuals and businesses. As internet use expands, people are depending on connectivity for various aspects of their lives, including business, communication, entertainment, and access to information. This growing demand has led to an increase in internet subscriptions, with the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) reporting a 6.48% rise to 62.79 million subscriptions in the quarter ending June 2026.
The TCRA also reported a rise in data use, with traffic growing by 11.65% to 1,041 petabytes during the quarter. Additionally, smartphone numbers increased by 5.16% to 31.34 million, pushing smartphone penetration from 42.50% in March to 44.74% in June. This growing demand for internet access is creating opportunities for people to provide internet access to users who may find individual connections too expensive.
One emerging model is neighbourhood Wi-Fi, where users contribute a monthly fee to access an existing internet connection. Bernard Malima is among those who have taken advantage of this demand, sharing his internet connection with people in his neighbourhood for a monthly fee of Sh10,000. This arrangement provides a cheaper option for people who cannot afford individual fibre connections or expensive monthly internet packages.
However, the income opportunity depends on reliable infrastructure, with electricity interruptions posing a challenge to people whose connections require continuous power. Malima cited electricity as his greatest challenge, as he does not have a portable router and relies on a fixed connection. Despite this challenge, Malima believes that young people can turn this service into an income-generating activity if they identify areas with sufficient demand.
At Mabibo Market, trader Rasul Ibrahim has also turned internet access into an additional income stream after buying a router and sharing the connection with fellow traders. Ibrahim said the service has uses beyond business transactions, as traders also use the connection to access information and learn new things while spending long hours at the market.
For some businesses, the value of internet access lies not in selling it but in using it to improve the customer experience. Beauty salon operator Habibah Mapesa said providing Wi-Fi can encourage customers to remain at her salon when they have to wait for services. Clothing trader Emily Chonya added that internet access has become important for marketing products and communicating with potential customers through social media.
The growing demand for internet access is expected to continue, with individuals and businesses finding new ways to capitalize on this trend. As internet penetration increases, it is likely that new opportunities will emerge for people to provide internet access and related services. Key players in the industry will need to ensure that they can meet the growing demand for reliable and affordable internet services.
Key points
- Growing demand for internet access in Tanzania creates new income opportunities
- Neighbourhood Wi-Fi models emerge as a cheaper option for internet access
- Reliable infrastructure is crucial for the success of internet-based businesses
