Promote Brandband Use to Cut Internet Charges

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

18 May 2011

editorial

When the first undersea fibre optic cable landed in Dar es Salaam, almost two years ago, many saw the development as the dawn of a new era in technology, with reduced cost of Internet access and more efficient services, thanks to the superior bandwidth speed.

However, very little seems to have changed. As a result, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) stakeholders are still grappling with the matter to establish where the country could have gone wrong.

The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority’s explanation that connectivity charges remain high partly because some of the players have not fully executed their contracts with satellite companies is hardly convincing.

This is because most of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are private companies, and one would have expected them to have factored this into their operations, including negotiating contracts with somewhat flexible clauses to see them, especially through their teething problems.

In any business venture, an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats/challenges is imperative. In the world of constantly changing technological innovations, no serious businessperson would readily get into any deal without considering all these factors.

It is unfortunate, therefore, that these new contracts have come at a time when the country is still reeling under the consequences of the past expensive deals in the energy sector and other areas that cost the government dearly.

There is no reason to lay the blame on the undersea cable operators, as we believe, they have done their part by providing the infrastructure. They brought the cables and the potential to reduce connectivity prices.

The country now has a super Internet highway, but the ISPs have yet to fully take advantage of this. However, it is only fair that efforts be stepped up to enable the people to enjoy cheaper and more efficient Internet services.

The ISPs have no option but to go for the best to provide the reliable, high capacity and high-speed connectivity that is possible with the optic fibre cables, as opposed to the old satellite system. This way, they will be helping to revamp Tanzania’s technological development.

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