Tanzania allocates $90 million for digital infrastructure in 2026/27 budget
Tanzania has allocated 222.6 billion Tanzanian shillings, or about $90 million, for the development of information and communication technologies in the 2026/27 fiscal year. On September 8, Deputy Minister Dr. Switbert Mkama called for increased public and private investment in digital infrastructure to achieve the National Development Vision 2050, The Rio Times reports.
Funding for networks and rural connectivity
Some 94.1% of the sector's budget is planned to be allocated to development spending. The largest allocation — 103.6 billion shillings, about $42 million — is earmarked for the National ICT Broadband Backbone.
Another 40 billion shillings, or approximately $16 million, are to be allocated for 636 telecommunications towers in rural areas. The Tanzania Digital Project is planned to receive 12.2 billion shillings, about $5 million. The program also includes two data centers in Dodoma and Zanzibar, five zonal technology centers, and 32 one-stop service centers.
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Private-sector plans
The government plans to allocate 5 billion shillings, or about $2 million, to fund approximately 50 startups. Tanzanian authorities say they are creating a favorable investment environment for the technology sector.
Helios Towers Tanzania, which marked its 15th anniversary of operations, said it intends to increase the number of its sites to 4,500 by the end of 2026. The company said it has more than 4,000 sites, of which over 1,900 are located in rural areas. Representatives of Yas Tanzania, Airtel Tanzania, and Vodacom Tanzania also took part in the event.
As part of its digital strategy, Tanzania plans to develop backbone connections toward the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The government links digital infrastructure to the country's industrialization and economic growth.
