Tanzania Telecommunications Report Q1 2011

This latest update on Tanzania's telecommunications market contains extended forecast figures for the country's fixed-line telephony, internet user and broadband subscriber markets through to 2015. This quarter as well sees the addition of 3G growth forecast for the Tanzanian market. Our new forecasts are based on new Q2 2010 data published by the country's telecoms regulator, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority.

Tanzania's fourth largest mobile operator by subscribers, Zanzibar Telecom, aims to increase its subscriber base within the then year amid fierce competition in the mobile market, reports Reuters. Zantel hopes to increase its subscriber base by up to two-thirds through its ongoing network expansion into mainland Tanzania.

According to market data from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority relating to the end of March 2011, Zantel continues to underperform in terms of subscriber growth compared to its main rivals Vodacom, Airtel and Tigo. The operator's mobile subscriber base has fluctuated for much of the last three years, during that of its rivals have usually trended upwards. For the three years to March 2011, Zantel recorded a total mobile subscriber net gain of 379,000, according to the TCRA data.