Subscriptions of feature phones – stripped-back, affordable mobiles – in Tanzania will account for 70% of total handset subscriptions in 2019.

However, smartphones are growing rapidly in the country and are set to surpass feature phones by 2024. In fact, smartphones in Tanzania will grow at a relatively fast compound annual growth rate of 19% and will account for more than 30 million subscriptions by the end of this forecast period.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

This smartphone growth is largely driven by increasing 3G and 4G network deployments by mobile operators such as Vodacom and Tigo. For instance, Vodacom added more than 300 4G sites, reaching coverage of 23% of the population, and added more than 190 3G sites, reaching 52% of the population in 2018.

Moreover, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) mandated that the country’s mobile operators’ mobile broadband coverage should reach 90% of the population by 2024, providing opportunities for further 3G and 4G deployments in more rural areas and thus more mobile data usage.

Furthermore, telecom operators are increasingly offering affordable 3G and 4G smartphones to stimulate mobile data usage and thus future revenue. For instance, Tigo offers the Tecno S3 3G smartphone for TZS67,500 (US$29.04). Additionally, the mobile operators are offering data-centric plans including free access to OTT applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. For instance, Tigo offers daily, weekly and monthly plans for only for social networks called “Social Packs” which are priced from TSZ1,000 (US$0.43).

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.