Case Study of Dar Es Salaam City Stephen M
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Library Hi Tech Contradictions of Tanzania Government policies on Internet service provision: case study of Dar es Salaam city Stephen M. MutulaMzee M.M.M. Ahmadi Article information: To cite this document: Stephen M. MutulaMzee M.M.M. Ahmadi, (2002),"Contradictions of Tanzania Government policies on Internet service provision: case study of Dar es Salaam city", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 20 Iss 3 pp. 359 - 369 Permanent link to this document: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07378830210444559 Downloaded on: 12 January 2016, At: 04:35 (PT) References: this document contains references to 19 other documents. To copy this document: [email protected] The fulltext of this document has been downloaded 752 times since 2006* Access to this document was granted through an Emerald subscription provided by emerald-srm:365202 [] For Authors If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.com Emerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services. Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. *Related content and download information correct at time of download. Downloaded by UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM At 04:35 12 January 2016 (PT) Telematics environment in Tanzania Contradictions of The state of telematics in Tanzania is not Tanzania Government encouraging, as shown in Tables I and II. From policies on Internet Table I, it can be seen that the telephone density and personal computer availability of service provision: Tanzania are below the average in the whole of case study of Africa, in the Southern African Development Community SADC) region, and in the world. Dar es Salaam city Similarly Tanzania lags behind Kenya and Uganda on average in the provision of Internet Stephen M. Mutula and services, as reflected in Table II. Mzee M.M.M. Ahmadi Telecommunications services in Tanzania are both inadequate and poor. According to the Country profile 1998), Tanzania had 0.29 main phone lines per 100 inhabitants in 1992, The authors compared with figures of 0.77 for neighboring Stephen M. Mutula [email protected]) is Lecturer Kenya. Today efforts are afoot by the at DLIS, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Government to rehabilitate and improve the Mzee M.M.M. Ahmadi [email protected]), is Master telecommunications services. In Dar es Salaam, of LIS Student at University of Botswana, and Senior Library Assistant, the Library, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. for example, the telephone system is being modernized with the assistance of Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation SANGONeT, 199t). Keywords As part of the Government efforts to improve Internet, Policy, Development, Problem solving, Tanzania the telecommunications services in Tanzania, the Tanzania Communications Commission Abstract TCC) was established as a legal entity vide the The Tanzania Government recognizes the importance of Tanzania Communications Act No. 18 of Internet accessibility in national development and has been at 1993) to establish and regulate the postal and the forefront, at least on paper, in putting in place institutional telecommunications services, radio structures and frameworks to enhance Internet access and use, communication and management of the radio particularly in Dar es Salaam. Some of the notable frequency spectrum. The TCC is required, accomplishments have been in the area of legislation: among other things to: establish regulations deregulation in telecommunication sector, licensing, reduction governing the operations of postal, of import duty and other tariffs on software and hardware. telecommunications and radio communication These efforts, though, have not translated in practical terms service in Tanzania; license postal and Downloaded by UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM At 04:35 12 January 2016 (PT) into wider Internet adoption and use in the country. This paper presents the results of a study that was carried out to establish telecommunications operators; define the tariff why, despite what is seen as Government's efforts to improve policy and regulate tariffs for basic services Internet accessibility and use in Dar es Salaam, the impact of provided by the postal and telecommunications these efforts remains insignificant. operators; define indicators of service quality and monitor compliance by service providers; Electronic access promote competition in service provision, starting with value-added service to basic The research register for this journal is available at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregisters service; advise the Government on matters pertaining to post and telecommunications; The current issue and full text archive of this journal is promote technological development with the available at aim of improving the quality of service to http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm internationally acceptable standards; lower tariffs and ensure the attainment of universal Library Hi Tech service requirements Hanson Cooke, 1998). Volume 20 . Number 3 . 2002 . pp. 359±369 # MCB UP Limited . ISSN 0737-8831 The Government of Tanzania is also taking DOI 10.1108/07378830210444559 other various measures in an attempt to 359 Contradictions of Tanzania Government policies on Internet service provision Library Hi Tech Stephen M. Mutula and Mzee M.M.M. Ahmadi Volume 20 . Number 3 . 2002 . 359±369 Table I Telematics status in SADC region compared withglobal and Africa statistics Internet Internet Internet service Telephone density Personal computers Countries hosts users providers per 100, 1997 per 100, 1996 Tanzania 137 2,500 14 0.3 0.037 SADC 151,927 930,100 218 4.8 1.6 Africa 165,000 1,000,000 350 2.0 0.64 World 16,000,000 150,000,000 10,000 13 4.72 Source: SADC 1999) Table II Internet penetration in East Africa Internet Users/Kb No. of No. of Kb per Call cost, Population/ GDP Internet Country ISPs users second $US/hour user $US/head capacity Kenya 16 15,000 2,000 1.36 1,935 330 8 Tanzania 14 2,500 1,098 1.94 12,876 139 2 Uganda 4 3,000 256 8.40 7,106 305 12 Source: Unesco 1999) improve and promote the Internet industry in serve as a study centre on new information the country. In 1995, for example, the technology Hanson Cooke, 1998). Government lifted the ordinance, which previously mandated the local publicly owned telephone company to be the sole telephone Internet development in Tanzania operator in the country SANGONeT, 1999). This decision led to the registration of a large Partial Internet access in Tanzania started number of privately owned cellular telephone during the early part of the 1990s, when operators. The registration of large number of Muhumbili University of Health Science, cellular telephone companies was expected to Commission of Science and Technology bring about stiff competition among the COSTECH) and the University of Dar es telephone operators and result in better services Salaam were connected using a store and to consumers. Today, the Tanzania forward electronic mail facility through Telecommunication Company Limited Healthnet. Tanzania Online and Cyber Twiga TTCL) is in the process of digitizing all its became the pioneer commercial companies to Downloaded by UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM At 04:35 12 January 2016 (PT) telephone lines in Dar es Salaam. This, it is offer full Internet access in the country expected, will speed up the rate of growth of Globalink Communications, 1997). data communications in the country. Tanzania today has full Internet connectivity Since its establishment, the TCC has taken available from 14 Internet service providers various steps aimed at improving and ISPs). This growth is attributed mainly to promoting the communications technology government policy changes, especially in the sector in Tanzania. For example, it has telecommunications sector. In 1993 Parliament established regulations that are expected to passed the Communications Act No. 18 which govern the introduction and provision of established the TCC to regulate affordable Internet services throughout the telecommunications services and provide public country. Currently, the commission is carrying telecommunications licenses in Tanzania. out a study on the consolidation of information Private companies have since established new technology, communications and broadcasting. services in communications. The TCC has Another development effort is the licensed new companies to complement existing establishment of the multipurpose ISPs. The TCC has also introduced new telecommunications laboratory, which will services to compete with TTCL, which until 360 Contradictions of Tanzania Government policies on Internet service provision Library Hi Tech Stephen M. Mutula and Mzee M.M.M. Ahmadi Volume 20 . Number 3 . 2002 . 359±369 recently was a monopoly in the country. In the November 1996 via a VSAT link through France. data communication area, a number of It offers connection services to individuals and companies have been granted licenses to