DODOMA, Tanzania — With the constant growth of smartphone usage throughout Africa comes the need and desire for increased speed and efficiency in connectivity. Accordingly, Tigo Tanzania has released new 4G LTE technology in order to grant Tanzanians faster internet service using their mobile devices.
Coverage began within Dar es Salaam and has slowly been spread throughout the summer. The network has scheduled the service to cover Dodoma, Arusha, Morogoro, Mwanza, and Tanga by the end of August.
According to Tigo Tanzania’s General Manager Cecile Tiano, this new technology should increase connectivity speed five-fold from existing 3G networks. She claims this will create the largest and fastest Internet network in the country.
This service will allow Tanzanian Tigo customers to utilize high-speed internet access for the first time, and will improve user accessibility for mobile services from simple phone calls to using mobile communication applications such as Skype.
“We recognize our customers’ ever-increasing demand for better, faster and high-quality Internet services; Tigo is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution,” Tiano stated. “This once again demonstrates our company’s commitment to the ‘digital lifestyle’ as leaders in delivering cutting-edge technology and innovation in this market.”
This update has been brought about in accordance with the company’s announcement that it plans on spending $120 million in expanding network coverage and developing service improvements in 2015.
Tigo has consistently been one of the front-runner providers in granting first-time service access to people in developing countries such as Tanzania. According to a Millicom Press Release, in 2013, Tigo became Tanzania’s first provider of 3G, winning the mobile industry GSMA’s Highly Commended Award under the Best Network Improvement category.
The company plans on continuing to work to better connect members of Tanzanian society in the digital age.
– Arin Kerstein
Sources: CommsMEA, IT News Africa, Millicom
Photo: Saporta Report