State-owned Tanzania Telecommunication Corporation (TTCL) says it needs a Sh1.77-trillion capital injection from the government to fund its strategy to compete with market rivals, including dominant operator Vodacom Tanzania.

According to the latest statistics from the Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA), TTCL has a market share of 2%, while Vodacom Tanzania enjoys 32% market share and the second largest operator Tigo with 29% market share.

TTCL board chairman Omari Nundu said that the company has developed a five-year plan to expand its network, increase its market share and "compete favourably with other operators."

The plan will be enforced during the 2019/20202 financial year and according to Nundu, "If we manage to get the needed capital injection, our firm will be able to make more profit and pay more dividends to the government. We want our mobile subscription share to reach 15% in the coming few years."

TTCL has a total of 711, 411 subscribers and recorded a profit of Sh8.3-billion during the 2017/2018 financial year.

It declared a Sh2.1-billion dividend at a recent event attended by the country's president John Magufuli.

Magufuli believes all public servants who receive communication allowances should subscribe TTCL to boost the company's subscriber base and revenue growth.

He ordered TTCL chief executive officer Waziri Kindamba to identify ministers and permanent secretaries who are subscribed to TTCL services.

According to the TTCA, Tanzania has a total of 43.621 million mobile phone subscribers and seven mobile phone companies.