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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is set to realize its dream of becoming a communication hub for East, Central and Southern Africa region, thanks to the strengthening of its National Fibre Optic Cable network in and outside the country. 
Already,
the National Fibre Optic Cable has been connected with undersea fibre optic
cable systems of SEACOM and the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System
(EASSy). Plans are underway to connect it with The East African Marine System
(TEAMS).
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication,
Science and Technology, Dr Florens Turuka told journalists at the weekend
that the National Fibre Optic Cable is now connected to all regional
headquarters in Tanzania Mainland and some district headquarters.
“In
Tanzania, seven telecommunication companies are connected to the National
Fibre Optic Cable,” Dr Turuka said.
He
mentioned the companies as Airtel Tanzania, Infinitty, Simbanet, Tigo
Tanzania, Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL), Vodacom Tanzania
and Zantel.
He said that the government through his ministry and TTCL had
already built a 7,560 kilometre fibre optic cable. These include new 5,448
kilometre built and 2,112 kilometer built by Tanesco along the main national
grid ways.
Explaining
further he said the national fibre optic cable had enabled other countries’
cable networks or communication systems to take advantage of it and connect.
The
countries are Kenya through (Namanga, Sirari and Horohoro), Rwanda (Rusumo),
Burundi (Kabanga), Malawi (Kasumulu), Zambia (Tunduma), Uganda (Mutukula) and
Msumbiji (Mtambaswala).
Also
telecommunication companies from neighboring countries have been connected in
the national fibre optic cable and these include MTL (Malawi); MTN (Zambia);
MTN, RDB, Airtel, KDN, RwandaTel, and BCS (Rwanda); UCOM and ECONET
(Burundi).
Dr.
Turuka said the advent of the fibre optic network has helped facilitating
communication in financial, education, health, agriculture, commerce, and
tourism sectors.
He
explained that because of conducive environment to develop communication
sector, private sector entities in the country have ventured in building
metro networks so that to better utilise the national fibre optic cable in
offering communication services.
Giving
example, he said already the Dar es Salaam metro network covering 90
kilometer has been completed and started to be used. It is expected that
other metro networks in Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma, Morogoro and Mbeya will be
built in the future.
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The Citizen Tanzania