• IoT is a digital technology that connects electronic devices through the internet, enabling them to communicate, collect information and take action in real time.

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Dar es Salaam. Imagine you are a farmer travelling away from home. Early in the morning, you wake up to a notification on your phone informing you that moisture levels in one section of your farm have dropped below the required threshold.

Without setting foot on the farm, and using nothing more than your smartphone and a reliable internet connection, you instruct the irrigation system to water the affected area, saving your crops from potential damage.

This is neither science fiction nor a scene from a movie. It is a reality that Tanzanians can now experience following the launch of Internet of Things (IoT) services by Yas Tanzania under its Yas Business portfolio.

IoT is a digital technology that connects electronic devices through the internet, enabling them to communicate, collect information and take action in real time.

IoT is a technology that allows machines, devices and systems to interact, sense and communicate without requiring constant human intervention, giving people more time to focus on other productive activities.

A true assistant

Josepher Muru, one of the experts demonstrating the technology at an exhibition booth during the launch of Yas Business in Dar es Salaam, says the service can be tailored to companies and entrepreneurs to suit their operational needs.

“You can connect devices such as irrigation systems, mining equipment, industrial machinery or even everyday assets like vehicles,” says Muru.

In manufacturing, he explains, integrating production equipment with IoT allows companies to receive instant updates, including early warnings about technical faults. This reduces losses caused by unexpected downtime, where problems are often detected only after machines stop functioning.

In the mining sector, operators can deploy robots connected through IoT to carry out extraction activities, particularly in areas that are too dangerous or inaccessible for human workers.

Tanzania is among Africa’s resource-rich nations, with significant deposits of gold, diamonds and Tanzanite. Mining activities involve large corporations, medium-sized firms and artisanal miners.

However, safety standards remain a challenge, especially among small and medium-scale miners who do not consistently adhere to established safety guidelines. The proper use of IoT, supported by high-speed and reliable internet connectivity, has the potential to significantly reduce safety risks in mining operations.

Pierre Canton-Bacara, Chief Executive Officer of Yas Tanzania, says the company has invested heavily in expanding internet access to help businesses improve productivity.

Addressing participants at the Yas Business launch, he said the company’s SD-WAN technology provides businesses with reliable, uninterrupted internet connectivity at speeds of up to 5G.

SD-WAN boosts network efficiency

SD-WAN, short for Software-Defined Wide Area Network, is a network management system that uses software to intelligently direct data traffic across a company’s network, enhancing internet availability and performance.

One of the major advantages of SD-WAN is its ability to automatically switch users to a more stable connection whenever the existing network becomes congested.

Yas Tanzania, which was acquired by Axian Telecom nearly four years ago, has invested more than Sh1 trillion in expanding and upgrading its network infrastructure across the country.

Emmanuel Mallya, Yas’ Chief Technology and Information Officer, says the company has added more than 1,600 network towers in both urban and rural areas, with 4G being the minimum standard.

To ensure businesses have access to the high-speed connectivity required for IoT applications, Mallya says Yas can build dedicated towers or smaller network installations tailored to specific business needs.

“We have more than 600 5G sites in towns and cities. We also operate an extensive 4G and 5G network nationwide, meaning businesses can work efficiently from virtually anywhere,” Mallya said during the launch event attended by industry leaders and technology stakeholders.

A solution businesses have long needed

For years, many projects and businesses have struggled with unreliable internet connectivity, often due to their remote locations or challenging operating environments.

Poor internet access has been one of the major barriers slowing the adoption of IoT technologies across Tanzania’s productive sectors.

According to Tanzania’s Digital Economy Strategy 2024-2034, IoT has the potential to drive the development of smart cities, where connected devices and sensors can improve urban infrastructure. Applications include traffic management, waste management, sustainable energy systems, digital infrastructure and efficient power distribution.

The strategy identifies the proposed Bagamoyo Smart City project as one example of future IoT implementation. It also highlights the growing role of connected devices in Tanzanian households through smart homes equipped with advanced lighting, security and management systems.

‘Yas Business is removing barriers’

Pierre says Yas Business was established to address key obstacles facing businesses in Tanzania, including operational inefficiencies and high running costs.

“Essential services such as these must be affordable. Affordability is critical,” he says, adding that Yas Business will support growth in sectors such as banking, transport and manufacturing.

Expanding access to fast and stable internet is among the crucial steps needed to accelerate the adoption of IoT technologies in Tanzania, particularly as the country advances its digital economy agenda.

Tanzania aims to expand its economy more than tenfold to surpass a value of US$1 trillion, equivalent to more than Sh2,627 trillion, by 2050. Digital technologies, including IoT, are expected to play a significant role in that transformation.

At present, Tanzania’s economy is valued at approximately US$95 billion, or about Sh249.6 trillion. As the country pushes toward a digitally driven future, technologies once considered futuristic are increasingly becoming part of everyday life.