This financial year (2021/2022) the government of Tanzania set aside TZS170-billion for the National Information Communication Technology Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) to boost security systems in various cities. Support would be managed through ICT applications and the system would be operated by state-owned TTCL Corporation.

This is according to cybersecurity and digital forensics expert Yusuph Kileo, who added that the country’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has this month launched the US$9.4-million Raddy Fibre Manufacturing plant in the Mkuranga district to help speed up roll out of Tanzania’s NICTBB project.

"Optic fibre to be locally produced by this plant will be used to speed up the implementation of the National ICT Broadband Backbone," said Hassan.

Kileo believes it is high time for ICT companies to come and invest in Tanzania given that the President has vowed to embrace ICT. “Security companies are highly recommended to invest in Tanzania …. when Tanzania is heavily investing in ICT, we all know cybersecurity is paramount. The number of cybersecurity companies in Tanzania are very few and I would wish to see more IT security companies coming to invest to Tanzania in order to facilitate the security of heavy ICT investment in the country,” Kileo added.

He said that the Ministry of ICT has been formulated, “something which was not there before since the independence of Tanzania.”

According to Kileo, during a recent visit to Kigali, Tanzania’s President signed agreements on cooperation in the field of communication and ICT.

Moreover, Tanzania’s government plans to build a state-of-the-art college for ICT to be used as a catalyst for economic growth.

"The government is in final touches for preparations of building the ICT college intended to focus on ICT research and innovation," Hassan added.