Following a governmental call for
tenders for international data carriers in 1996, the national regulator issued licenses to
three locally registered companies with international ownership. These licenses have a
period of 10 years (subject to review after 5 years), and were issued to the following
companies:
- SITA: The well
known airline communications co-operative;
- Datel: A joint
venture between Tanzania Telecommunications Company (49%) and Nexua International (a
subsidiary of France Telecom Group) (51%). It provides public data communications network
services based on VSAT satellite technology.
- Wilken/Afsat: A
subsidiary of Wilken
International based in Nairobi which has traditionally supplied voice radio
communications services in East Africa. In addition to international data carrier license,
the company has also obtained a local wireless data transmission license in the 2.4Ghz
waveband with which it will connect customers directly to its 12 meter international earth
station in Dar-es-Salaam with downlink in the USA.
The cost of the data licenses was
US$ 100,000 plus a royalty fee of 5% on annual turn-over. The University of Dar-es-Salaam
was issued a free international data license as the service is restricted to the
University community and resale of services to the general public is prohibited.
The entrance of Wilken/Afsat in the
resale market has created a competitive environment. For two years the Internet services
market was marked by the high costs of leased lines to Datel and SITA (about US$ 17,000 a
month for 128 Kbps and US$ 12,000 a month for 64Kbps), but Wilken/Afsat has entered the
resale market with US$ 5,000 for 64Kbps.
Internet Service Providers
CyberTwiga is
Tanzania's first commercial full Internet Service Provider. It has international
connectivity via a 64 Kbps SITA link, a 256 Kbps Simplest link via Interpacket's Espresso
service. It has recently established a point
of presence in Arusha. It is providing wireless links using Wi-Lan for leased
line customers and setting up an HF radio e-mail service. The following price structure
applies at CyberTwiga:
| E-mail
only |
US$
50.00/month |
| Unlimited
web/e-mail |
US$
75.00/month |
Internet Africa, a subsidiary of Soft-Tech
Consultants Ltd., started its operations as an Internet Service Provider in
1996. Internet
Africa's servers are connected to the Internet gateway in Norway via a VSAT operating at
128 kbps. The link will be upgraded to 256 kbps as the need arises. Connection fees at Internet
Africa:
Connection Fee:
First user: US$ 100.00
Each additional user: US$ 25.00
Migrating User: No connection charges
Monthly Charge per user: US$
50.00
Multiple Users on the same site: Negotiable
(Depend on the number of users)
Special rates applicable for
quarterly, half-yearly and annual advance payments
An additional cost of a local
line call payable to TTC as part of the normal usage of the telephone line will be
incurred.
Cats-Net is
an Internet Service provider founded in January 1997 by a computer
company known as Computers and Telecoms Systems (T) Ltd. Connectivity
Pricing is as follows:
Initial Connection: US$ 100.00
US$ 52.00 per month
US$ 141.00 quarterly
US$ 271.00 half yearly
US$ 507.00 yearly [+ 1 month free]
Web Site Hosting charges per month:
US$30.00
Web Site Development charges per
page: US$100.00
Raha is one of the first Internet Service Providers in Tanzania to
enter the data communications industry with a 256K link via Vsat. Raha.com constantly
monitors and updates its facilities as its client base has grown to over 1,500 users.
Zanzinet (Internet Zanzibar) is the first
and presently the only full Internet Service Provider in Zanzibar. It started its
operations in July 1997 through a VSAT link to the Internet through France. The company
has both Windows NT and Linux servers and it offers full Internet access to dial-up
PPP/POP customers. Pop-in services at the company's offices whereby customers can use a
pool of the fully networked computers to do web browsing as well as sending/receiving
e-mail messages.
Next-Step Services
in Zanzibar: They operate an e-mail kiosk that is conveniently located very close
to many government and private business offices as well as to most tourist attractions.
Their office is located at the Hurumzi street just behind the Palace Museum. In addition to providing e-mail sending/receiving services and
Internet web browsing, they also provide a set of other services such as international
phone calls and faxes, and full secretarial services - document writing/printing,
photocopying, binding, business cards, identity cards, etc. They are open 9:00am -
10:00pm, 7 days a week.
AfricaOnline Tanzania is a subsidiary of Africa Online, the premier provider of internet
communications services throughout Africa, bringing Internet users a level of technical
expertise and breadth of service unequaled by any other on the continent. Founded in 1994
by three Kenyans studying at M.I.T. and Harvard University in the United States, Africa
Online has evolved its charter to provide leading-edge Internet services to thousands of
successful individuals and businesses. Africa Online is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya,
with operations in Kenya, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Internet host sites: 536
(2000)
Internet subscribers
(1999)
- Total: 3,000
- Internet users per 10,000
inhabitants: 0.94
Internet Users (1999)
- Total: 25,000
- Users per 10,000 inhabitants: 7.62
Internet use by categories:
- Commercial:
- Academic:
- Research:
- NGO/UN/International:
- Government:
- Others:
Internet bandwidth (Kbps):
1,098
