PISTO LERO
JF-Expert Member
- Mar 8, 2011
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Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has yet to embrace fully, the 3G and 4G technologies, which constitute relatively new information technology phenomena in the country.
The 3G, short for third generation, represents the third generation of mobile telecommunication networks that facilitate information transfer at high speed and ease access of internet services on handsets.
As mobile phone networks evolve to third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) systems and more advanced yet inexpensive phones become available, the scope, sophistication, and impact of mobile application and services have continually been expanding.
One of the benefits of using 3G and 4G technologies, among others, is that through various bundles offered by operators, people have been able to do multiple things at a go watching live matches, listening to music, watching films and doing businesses and various transactions instantly.
Prior to the entrance of 3G and 4G technology, handsets were only for calling and sending or receiving text messages as well as listening to radio and surfing the internet, but the coming of 3G and 4G has enabled a high speed internet that has enabled the transformation and improvement of peoples lives through improved work efficiency.
Operators like Vodacom Tanzania, Airtel Tanzania and Tigo Tanzania, for example, have in recent times embarked on launching the use of 3G technology which has shown remarkable achievements in data service provision. Vodacom Tanzania, for one, has come up with 4G technologies.
Msasani, a suburb of Dar es Salaam is a trial base for the system, which will subsequently spread to other parts of the country. Experts in the field say the initiative is good, but note that the targeted customers have yet to grasp the subject matter.
Rene Meza, Vodacom Tanzania Managing Director, says the launch of 4G technology in the country will enable Tanzanians living in urban and rural areas enjoy high speed and efficient communication services through the internet.
Meza notes that the availability of the technology in the country will provide an opportunity for Tanzanians to benefit from internal and international market platforms in more simplified ways than the 3G technology.
This is another milestone in fostering economic prosperity through embracing the use of technology that is up-to-date and efficient enabling people work and do businesses from the comfort of their handsets, he says.
African Mobile Observatory Report 2011, indicates that most African countries, even though they have passed through both generations, the roll-out of 3G services had provided a viable alternative to fixed broadband, in the form of internet-enabled handsets and wireless modems.
He says that, even though internet access has been significantly boosted by improved mobile coverage and the launch of GPRS, EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) and 3G technologies, a lot remains to be done by mobile operators in terms of investments to bring internet services to a mass market of Africans.
Meza adds that 4G technology in Tanzania has come at the right time when the whole world is undergoing various scientific and technological transformations.
The speed of using the service in the country is high, but there is still a need for provision of public awareness campaigns to educate the society on what the new technology is all about, as most people are still lagging behind.
For their part, customers who tested the speed of the 4G internet for the first time in Dar es Salaam say the new trends of technology are important undertakings that telecoms must play according to the tune of change to the accolade of efforts being taken by companies to march with reliable technologies in the communication sector.
Morogoro-based ICT specialist Eliachim Pascal says 4G increases the data-carrying capacity of cell-sites and reduces lag, meaning telecommunications companies can use the technology to support faster mobile broadband plans and to better-support new services that rely on low potential, such as group video-conferencing and mobile gaming.
With this technology, people who reside in areas having high 4G coverage can use it for broadband connection directly. It can also be used for accessing the Internet on the move without having to be in a wireless hotspot, says Mr Pascal
He adds that, however due to low understanding and awareness of these technologies, majority cannot benefit from the service.
Since I got connected to this 4G internet, I havent experienced difficulties in surfing, Im just enjoying the freedom to browse the internet and enjoy faster data streaming in my phone, said Khadija Mrope, a Mwananyamala resident.
Ms Mrope says majority are using the services even without knowing what the technologies are all about. At some point the cost of internet packages are very high, operators need to give us some offers we can afford, she adds.
The coming of this technology may not be of importance if telecoms continue charging us high interconnection rates, Mr Abbas said.
To enable the mobile industry to continue acting as a catalyst for growth, sufficient spectrum is needed for the provision of mobile broadband services through 3G and 4G technologies.
To complement these efforts, the government has continued to invest seriously in the ICT sector to foster development initiatives through technology.
Some customers however are of the view that there is a need for companies to reduce the charges for mobile money transfer services under M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Tigo Pesa and Ezy Pesa.
Meza says Vodacom customers will start using Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology the most recent tech in provision of mobile services in the world which is also undergoing trials in Msasani.
Meza says his firm has already completed the first phase of connecting its services to the recently installed National Information Communication Technology Broadband Backbone (NICTBB) with expectations of bringing about national socio-economic transformation.
The installation of 4G or LTE technologies is being undertaken by Vodacom in collaboration with Nokia Siemens with the aim of testing the effectiveness and efficiency in offering mobile services, including voice calls and data services.
We are aware that LTE communication frequencies are already available in the country, but this hasnt yet reached majority of Tanzanians to enjoy the high speed internet services in a bid to improve the living standards.
