TTCL fibre push targets 400,000 new users

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) is aiming to connect 400,000 new customers to its fibreoptic network in a newly launched rollout project, as the state-owned carrier pushes toward a goal of one million users by 2028.

Communication and Information Technology Minister Angellah Kairuki ordered TTCL to speed up the nationwide rollout, directing the carrier to extend service to homes, businesses, colleges, schools and health facilities across mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. She spoke on Saturday in Dar es Salaam at the launch of the project’s second phase.

The expansion presents TTCL with an opportunity to increase its fixed-broadband customer base and generate additional revenue from a market where demand for data services is growing rapidly. But the project also puts pressure on the stateowned operator to balance affordability, network quality and commercial returns.

Rising data consumption and demand for reliable internet are driving greater investment in fixed broadband infrastructure, as households and businesses seek faster and more dependable connections.

Kairuki urged TTCL to keep prices within reach of customers including farmers and fishermen while operating commercially and responding to competition and regulatory requirements.

The minister also called for tighter financial controls, saying every shilling invested in the second phase should deliver measurable improvements in connectivity and service quality.

TTCL connected 178,904 users during the first phase and extended fibre services to 10 regions, according to Director General Moremi Marwa. The second phase will expand coverage to additional regions nationwide.

The scale-up comes as Tanzania’s appetite for data continues to grow. Kairuki cited TCRA figures showing household data consumption reached 1,041 petabytes in the quarter ended June 2026, while internet usage also increased.

That growth creates a larger addressable market for fixed broadband, particularly among businesses seeking reliable connections for digital payments, cloud services, e-commerce and other online operations.

For households and educational institutions, fibre connectivity could expand access to digital learning, entertainment and online services. Health facilities and researchers could also benefit from more dependable connections.

The commercial challenge is converting infrastructure into sustained customer demand. Fibre deployment requires substantial capital, while affordability constraints could limit revenue growth if prices are pushed too low.

TTCL will therefore need to improve coverage, customer service and network reliability while maintaining a pricing model capable of supporting continued investment.

The project also places the government’s digitaleconomy ambitions against a practical test: Whether expanding physical connectivity can translate into higher productivity and broader participation in online markets.

For TTCL, the target of one million users by 2028 offers a clear measure of whether the fibre strategy can turn public infrastructure investment into a scalable commercial broadband business.