• High speed and reliable internet is needed in every aspect of human life from education, family growth, governance to business. 

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Two decades ago the internet was a privilege for the few in Tanzania. For many including me it was a luxury and anyone who had access was seen as extraordinary. 

For those who were around then, non-Gen Zs, you might recall how far you were required to travel and pay to access the internet in a cybercafe. The cybercafes were high end and for the few who had the skills to use computers. 

Fast forward, the internet is no longer a luxury service to many Tanzanians. It has become an integral part of our lives from social, political and economic life. You are affected by it whether you have a smartphone, a laptop or not at all. In  certain scenarios, the internet now is a matter of life and death such as when it is involved in telemedicine. 

The number of internet users is growing fast and its utility value is expanding. According to the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) internet users have more than doubled within five years from 28.5 million subscribers in December 2020 to 58.1 million subscribers by December 2025. The growth has an upward trend for Quarter-on-Quarter  and Year-on-Year. For example, internet subscribers increased almost by double digits to 58.1 million December 2025 from 48 million subscribers recorded in December 2024.

The internet growth and penetration are promising and we might have fewer worries about that due to fast adoption of smartphones which reached 28.5 million in December 2025. In my view, we should now invest more in internet speed and its widest coverage within the country to ensure it supports social and economic development. 

Yas Tanzania CEO, Pierre Canton-Bacara, speaking in one of the company events. Ookla recognised the telecom for third time for its fastest internet service. Photo|Yas Tanzania/Pool.

Speed and reliability matters

This is because high speed and reliable internet is needed in every aspect of human life from education, family growth, governance to business. 

For example, students with a shortage of teachers and other learning materials need high speed  internet to facilitate digital learning. A slow internet is detrimental to learning. 

This is true of the media industry we are in. Media and content creators, who are increasing every day, need fast and widely available internet to stream their content. The network that supports 2K and 4K videos or interactive content increases audience engagement and creates opportunities for monetisation and audience development. Slow internet affects user experience on content, directly affecting revenue streams of media and content creators. 

The demand is the same for small, medium and large businesses which need stable and high speed internet to deliver services and products to their customers.

These few examples demonstrate the need for internet service providers to supply high speed and strong internet to customers. In modern days, it is easy to discover a fast and reliable internet as there are many connectivity intelligence companies which are tracking and rating internet speed in the world including in Tanzania such as Ookla. 

We saw recently that Ookla recognised Yas Tanzania as the country’s fastest network for the third time in a row, a milestone that needs a deep analysis of what it means in supporting the digital economy. 

Good for Yas, opportunity for many

According to Yas Tanzania, the recognition reflects the everyday experience their customers can expect on the  network – faster browsing, smoother streaming, quicker downloads and dependable connectivity when it matters most. 

“Reliable connectivity is the foundation of digital transformation, enabling education, entrepreneurship and economic growth across Tanzania. Building the strongest network has been Yas’ top priority from day one,” the telecom said recently. 

The company said it “has the widest 4G and 5G network in Tanzania, available in every corner of the country reaching over 95% of the population, serving over 29 million customers.”

This award, while a milestone for the Yas team, should also be recognised as a country’s success story in advancing the digital economy. The assessment of this achievement should be beyond Yas recognition and focus on how we can tap this speed and wide network to promote social and economic development. With this aggressive mindset, we will be able to take a major leap in the digital economy. 

Even as we recognise  progress made by Yas Tanzania, we should keep pushing for more improvements to ensure internet service providers (ISPs) spread their network to rural areas to facilitate equal opportunities to everyone. 

Nuzulack Dausen is an international journalist covering business, technology and data. He is currently the CEO of Nukta Africa, a Tanzanian digital media and technology company. The comments are his own views and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nukta Africa.