The Government in Tanzania is contemplating installing modern internet services on its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) services.
The envisaged development will allow passengers aboard East Africa’s first electrified high-speed railway service to access fast internet services while travelling in comfortable wagons.
The plan was unveiled by the Deputy Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Dr Switbert Mkama, while responding to questions from parliamentarians during the ongoing National Assembly sessions in Dodoma, the capital city.
The Minister noted that the project, which is currently at the procurement stage for relevant facilities, will also incorporate the installation of internet connections on the Metre-Gauge Railway (MGR) line, as well as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) line.
He said the services will also be connected to other critical areas, including the country’s national parks and border areas.
According to him, the implementation of the project is part of a broader initiative aimed at increasing the availability of internet and communication services across the country.
He noted that the prospective project will incorporate the installation of more than 280 communication towers in different parts of the country.
“In today’s world, the internet stands among the key requirements for fostering socio-economic development. Thus, the Government will continue to ensure access to these cloud-connected services in all areas of the country,” he added.
The Minister informed the House that Tanzania currently lacks a total of 3,000 communication towers, saying the parent ministry was making efforts to source the funds needed to erect the required towers.
The vision, he said, is to ensure that citizens in all areas of the country have access to fast internet services by 2030 to help speed up socio-economic development activities.