Vodacom Tanzania celebrated its 25th anniversary by announcing a transformative $100 million technology modernization program, one of the largest infrastructure investments in its history, aimed at revolutionizing connectivity and advancing digital inclusion across the nation.
The initiative will upgrade thousands of network sites and enhance IT infrastructure, including the widely used M-Pesa platform, to deliver faster data speeds, improved call quality, and more reliable financial services for millions of users.
The modernization program aligns with Vodacom Tanzania’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes people, planet, and trust, while supporting Tanzania’s national digital transformation agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Philip Besiimire, Vodacom’s Managing Director, emphasized the program’s long-term impact: “Our journey to Vision 2030 has officially begun. This investment lays the groundwork for the next five years and beyond, empowering communities through better access, adopting greener technologies, and maintaining the trust of our customers, partners, and investors.”
To date, over 1,000 network sites have been upgraded across the Lake Zone, Southern Highlands, and parts of Central Tanzania, with plans to extend improvements nationwide. The upgrades promise enhanced 4G coverage, faster internet speeds, and greater cybersecurity to meet the demands of Vodacom’s growing user base, now in the tens of millions.
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A key focus of the program is sustainability, aligning with Vodacom’s Net Zero 2035 ambition. The modernization incorporates energy-efficient infrastructure, including Huawei’s ‘zero-bit-zero-watt’ technology, which reduces power consumption by up to 30% while boosting network performance.
Andrew Lupembe, Vodacom’s Network Director, highlighted additional innovations: “We’re optimizing tower space with multi-band radio technology, accommodating all spectrums in one radio and integrating multiple frequency bands into single antennas. This ensures superior 4G and 5G performance while significantly cutting carbon emissions.”
The initiative also strengthens Vodacom’s role in Tanzania’s burgeoning digital economy by accelerating digital and financial inclusion.
By enhancing M-Pesa’s stability and expanding connectivity to underserved rural areas, the company aims to connect every Tanzanian to economic opportunities. “This is about catalyzing innovation and building infrastructure that drives national growth for the next 25 years and beyond,” Besiimire added.
