Tanzania will extend its National Information and Communications Technology Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) to Mozambique as part of a TSh2.4-billion project.

The project includes the construction of fibre optic network, power and transmission equipment, and is expected to improve the quality of internet connectivity and penetration in Mozambique.

Tanzania has emerged as a key ICT infrastructure and solution hub, having already extended its NICTBB to Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.

Tanzania’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr Faustine Ndungulile said the project was officially handed over by his Ministry on 17 February and is being funded by government.

Ndungulile said once the construction is completed and the infrastructure is in place, the governments of Tanzania and Mozambique will enter into an official contract to facilitate payment for services.

The Minister was quoted by the local Citizen newspaper as saying: “We signed the agreement on January 13 this year and is valid for six months from February 2021 to July 2021. The construction of the broadband will start from Mangaka to Mtambaswala, a distance of 72 kilometres. Similarly, transmission systems will be installed at Mtambaswala and Masasi stations to facilitate communication services in Mtambaswala and across Mozambique. ”

According to the Digital 2020 report, the number of internet users in Mozambique increased by 439,000 between 2019 and 2020 to reach 5.36 million users while internet penetration stood at 17% as of January 2020.

Mozambique’s Ministry of Transport and Communications did not respond to requests for comment.