2000 - 2011
Overview
Vodacom Tanzania Limited is Tanzania's leading cellular network
offering state-of-the-art GSM communication services to more
than 10 million customers across the country.
Vodacom Tanzania is a subsidiary company of Vodacom Group (Pty)
Limited, South Africa which is also a subsidiary of Vodafone Group
UK. Vodacom Group (Pty) Limited owns a majority share portion of
65%, the remaining 35% is owned by Tanzanian shareholder, one
Mirambo ltd.
Operational Milestones
In December 1999, Vodacom Group (Pty) Ltd. won a bid to operate
a GSM cellular network and provide Public Land Mobile Network
Services (PLMN) in the United Republic of Tanzania and formed the
subsidiary company Vodacom Tanzania.
By July 2000, Vodacom Tanzania completed its state of the art
GSM infrastructure and went live August 14, 2000. Within the first
four months of operations 50,000 subscribers were connected.
In September 2004, Vodacom connected its one millionth customer
and the company continued to grow rapidly. In September 2005, the
Government of Tanzania introduced the converged licensing
framework, which was meant to enhance the provision of
communication services in the country thus bringing in the concept
of technology neutrality.
As leader in the telecommunications market, in February 2006,
Vodacom Tanzania took a bold decision to negotiate converting its
PLMN license into the new licensing framework.
In March 2006, Vodacom Tanzania, recorded its two millionth
customer. In July 2006, Vodacom Tanzania was granted three major
service licenses in the Communications Sector namely, Network
Facilities License, Network Services License & Application
Services License, with the authority to provide a range of
communication services, voice & data combined both nationally
& internationally.
This opened a new era for increased investment and a more
focused provision of quality communication services to the people
of Tanzania. In January 2007, Vodacom reached another milestone as
it connected its third million subscriber, and became the first
mobile network in Tanzania to post such a huge subscriber base.
Today, 10 years later we have over 10 million subscribers and
still counting.
Network and Coverage
Vodacom Tanzania has deployed state of the art technology,
thereby enhancing its product portfolio and positioning itself as
the market leader for any communication solution. For voice, data,
leased lines, PABX connectivity, international connectivity, WiMAX
solutions, remote communication solutions over satellite or banking
solutions, Vodacom Tanzania addresses the need.
Technologies available to subscribers, both individuals and
corporate through Vodacom Tanzania include:
• GSM 900/1800 countrywide covering 75.82% of the population
• GPRS countrywide covering 75.82% of the population
• EDGE in selected towns and cities covering 50% of the
population
• 3G with HSDPA in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, Mwanza, Mbeya,
Bukoba, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga, Tabora, Singida, Namanga, Tanga,
Dodoma, Morogoro, Makambako, Mbeya, Tunduma, Lindi, Mtwara and
Masasi.
• WiMAX 802.16d in 5 major cities covering 70% of business
premises.
Competition has increased significantly over the last year in
Tanzania. Besides quality, coverage plays an extremely important
role in the competition race.
Vodacom Business
Vodacom Tanzania is more than just a mere cell phone company,
over the years it has established itself as a total solutions
provider. To live up to expectations and cater for ever growing
corporate needs in the country, Vodacom recently established
Vodacom Business division.
Vodacom Business is a leading provider of converged
communication solutions that are customer-centric,
technology-driven, cost-effective, and innovative and generate
sustainable value. Vodacom customers can now meet all their
communication requirements, from mobile telephony through internet
access to hosted applications, with a single service provider.
Through the division, Vodacom offers a comprehensive portfolio
of access technologies and data solutions to help organizations of
all sizes achieve the agility they need to compete successfully in
a connected world.
Vodacom Business also offers a comprehensive range of Managed
Hosted services including basic and dedicated hosting and storage,
backup and disaster recovery. Security services include perimeter
firewalls, email and web content filtering and anti-virus and
anti-spam solutions.
Products and Services
Vodacom Tanzania has been a leader in the market for myriad of
reasons. Vodacom stands out for introducing new products and
services for the first time in the country as others follow. Below
is a range of Vodacom Tanzania products offered to customers and
those still on the pipeline.
Vodacom M-Pesa
Vodacom M-Pesa is a revolutionary financial service offered by
Vodacom Tanzania and the first choice for Tanzanians who need to
send money anywhere in Tanzania to any person with a mobile phone.
With Vodacom M-Pesa, customers are assured of money transfers that
are immediate, safe and most importantly, reliable.
Introduced in April, 2008, Vodacom M-Pesa has been reaching
out to every corner of Tanzania ever since. The services are mainly
Person to Person, Customer to Business, Business to Customer and
Business to Business.