As Vodacom Tanzania commemorates 25 years of serving the nation, the company is embarking on an ambitious technology modernisation initiative valued at over US$100 million, representing one of the largest infrastructure investments in its history.
This transformative program is poised to enhance connectivity, improve service quality, and accelerate digital inclusion in urban centres and underserved rural areas. It is designed to support Tanzania’s growth trajectory over the next quarter-century and beyond.
The modernisation plan includes upgrading thousands of network sites throughout Tanzania and enhancing the IT infrastructure, notably improving the M-Pesa platform. These enhancements will lead to faster data speeds, superior call quality, more dependable M-Pesa services, and bolstered cybersecurity, effectively catering to the needs of the rapidly growing user base, now numbering in the tens of millions.
Philip Besiimire, Managing Director of Vodacom Tanzania, stated, “Our journey towards Vision 2030 has officially begun. With this investment, we are laying the groundwork for the next five years and beyond, enabling people with improved access, promoting sustainability through greener technologies, and maintaining the confidence of our customers, partners, and investors.”
Over 1,000 network sites have been upgraded in regions such as the Lake Zone, Southern Highlands, and parts of Central Tanzania.
This modernisation effort aligns with Vodacom Tanzania’s Vision 2030, which emphasises the importance of people, the planet, and trust in every decision made. It further supports Tanzania’s national digital transformation agenda and advances the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In alignment with its Net Zero 2035 commitment, Vodacom’s modernisation will feature energy-efficient infrastructure, targeting a reduction in power consumption by up to 30% while enhancing network performance and coverage. This strategy underscores the company’s commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, ensuring quality digital access is available to urban and remote communities.
“This upgrade incorporates the latest technology, significantly expanding 4G coverage and ensuring faster internet speeds and improved connectivity across Vodacom’s operations,” remarked Andrew Lupembe, Vodacom’s Network Director. “We are embracing greener solutions with Huawei’s leading ‘zero-bit-zero (0 bit 0) watt’ technology, which enhances power efficiency, reduces carbon emissions, and improves performance for both 4G and 5G networks.”
Additionally, the company is optimising its tower space by introducing multi-band radio technology, which integrates all frequency spectrums into a single radio and utilises multiple frequency bands within the same antennas.
As Tanzania’s digital economy continues to expand, Vodacom is reaffirming its commitment to being a catalyst for digital and financial inclusion, fostering innovation, and investing in the necessary infrastructure to connect every Tanzanian with new opportunities.
