TCRA has reportedly granted five new mobile licences in Tanzania

March 26, 2010 - PRLog -- According to local newspaper the Citizen, Tanzanian Communications Authority (TCRA) has granted a further five new mobile licences to respectively MyCell, Egotel, Rural Netco, Smile and ExcellentCom in order to offer cellular-based services in the country. If confirmed, this would bring the number of market players to a dozen, one of the highest ratios of licenses to potential customers in the world.

Citing the TCRA director-general John Nkoma in reference to the new licensees, the daily wrote: “They are expected to enter the country’s communication industry when the process to give them network facility licensees is completed”

According to Dataxis Intelligence latest updates, Tanzania ended 2009 with nearly 17.3 million mobile subscribers served by six market players – The 7th licensed operator Hits Tanzania is yet to launch commercial services- led by South Africa’s Vodacom Group local subsidiary which holds a 40% market share, followed by Zain and Tigo with respectively 28% and 23% shares.

With these new developments in this 42 million-populated country with already seven operators one may ask why the new five licensees are so interested in entering the market? According to Mzumbe University economics lecturer Honest Ngowi “There is an indication that the telecommunication industry is profitable and that’s why more companies are entering the market”. Besides, the mobile penetration rate which is at 41% of the population is still low and let much place for potential growth as the majority of Tanzanians are yet to have access to basic mobile phone services.

www.dataxisnews.com

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DATAXIS, is an international market research company that covers 4 play markets worldwide. Our online database contains detailed and up to date data on subscribers, revenues & ARPUs as well as annual forecasts on major operators and technology suppliers.