EAST, Central and Southern African states
have been challenged to utilise information and communication technology
(ICT) services to achieve social and economic development.
The Minister of Communication, Science and Technology, Prof Makame
Mbarawa made the challenge yesterday during the Connect to Connect
Summit in Dar es Salaam, noting that the use of ICT services will help
facilitate service delivery in all sectors for economic growth.
"The use of ICT services will help to build a well informed and knowledge-based society," he said.
He said the government has invested dearly in construction of
National ICT Broadband Backbone with a view to achieving its vision of
making the country a hub of ICT infrastructure and solution, thus
transforming Tanzania into knowledge-based Society.
"The initiatives came with a view of reducing poverty and
accelerating socio-economic development in the country and across the
region," Prof Mbarawa said.
He added that Tanzania has good strategic and geographic position
linking it with the Indian Ocean Sub-marine cables at the landing points
in Dar es Salaam for international connectivity to neighbouring
countries.
He mentioned countries which have been connected to Tanzania NICT
Backbone as Malawi, Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia and talks were at advanced
stage to connect South Sudan and Mozambique.
TTCL Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kamugisha Kazaura, said that the
National ICT Broadband has enabled the country in the transformation
from analogue to digital systems with quality and improved services.
"We expect all regions in the country to get digital broadcasting services after switching off the analogue system," he said.
He said his company was committed to ensure that new technology is
widely used in telecommunications sector by providing more employment
opportunities and boost fast internet penetration.
Earlier, Sudanese Minister for Science and Communications, Dr Eisa
Bashari Mohamed Hamid said the summit has helped them to learn and share
experience with Tanzanian government on transformation from analogue to
digital broadcasting.
"My government is in final stages of talks with Tanzania on
connecting Sudan to the Tanzania National ICT Broadband Backbone," he
said.
The summit attracted participants from eight countries from East,
Central and Southern Africa where the summit main theme was ìDiscuss and
Explore the use of ICT for Socio-economic Development.
