By Ogova Ondego
Published April 26, 2015
Tanzanian mobile telephony service provider, Tigo, has launched a high-speed data transfer wireless communication technology that improves surfing, downloading content and video streaming.
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The new technology, dubbed 4G LTE, is said to be five times faster than the 3G technology currently available on the market.
“The 4G LTE network offers faster and higher speeds of data transfer, faster response times from the network and increased overall network capacity,” Tigo says. “It significantly enhances the customer experience for video streaming or conferencing and can accommodate more applications such as high definition content, video blogs, interactive games and video downloads on social networking sites.”
Analysts say the 4G technology will enable Tigo customers to enjoy a world class experience of increased speed and quality of internet access through the network across Tanzania .
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Tigo, that is said to have an estimated 8.5 million subscribers in Tanzania, says it is investing US$120 million on network improvement and expansion in 2015 with a view to becoming “the fastest Internet network in the country.”
Tigo says the US$120 Million investment will also be used in scaling up its 3G sites and fibre network countrywide to make the internet accessible to more users in Tanzania that is billed as East Africa’s fastest growing economy.
Cecile Tiano, Acting General Manager of Tigo, says the launch “demonstrates our companyâ’s commitment to the digital lifestyle transformation and its leadership in delivering cutting edge technology and innovation in this market.”
Saying the initial launch covered Masaki and Mlimani areas of Dar es Salaam, Tiano said Tigo’s plan is to cover the whole of Dar es Salaam–Kinondoni, Ilala and Temeke, Upanga, Posta, Tegeta, Mbagala, Tabata, Kimara, Mbezi, Ukonga, Salasala, Mikocheni, Msasani, Sinza–by the end of July 2015.
“We will also launch 4G in Arusha, Dodoma, Morogoro, Moshi, Mwanza and Tanga by end of August. This will make us by far the biggest 4G network in Tanzania,” Tiano said in Mlimani at the launch presided over by Prof Makame Mbarawa, Tanzania’s Minister for Communications, Science and Technology on April 24, 2015.
