The Minister, Prof Makame Mbarawa told reporters here that the commission came into being following National ICT Policy of 2003, which among other things, was initiated to ensure that Tanzania was not left behind in technology.
Through commission, Prof Mbarawa said that Tanzanians will be in a position of enjoying both simplified social and administrative system through e-governance, telemedicine, and e-education.
“The commission has been in place following national ICT policies set by the government. With this commission, Tanzanians are going to enjoy simplified telecommunication systems and many other social, political and administrative related activities,” Prof Mbarawa said.
Prof Mbarawa said that ICT sector has been highly growing thus it was vital to have a commission in the country to coordinate various ICT relating issues. Giving statistics on the growth of the sector, the minister said that in 2007 the sector grew by 20.1 per cent, 20.5 and 22 per cent in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
He said that the ICT sector was also contributing to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), whereby in 2007 he said that ICT sector contribution to GDP was 2.3 per cent, 2.5 and 2.1 per cent in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Minister Mbarawa said that more efforts were still needed to ensure that the sector contribute highly to GDP as the current statistics shows that the sector was not adequately contributing to GDP despite its high growth record.
He also said that with the newly-established commission the government was going to ensure that Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd (TTCL) withstand the storms of ICT competition not only in Tanzania but also across the border. He said that TTCL was now concentrating more on data services and not voice like other telecommunication services available in the country.
Through its strategic and long-term plan, the company was going to be one of the leading data centre in the world. Currently, Tanzania provides ICT services through fibre-optic cable which has passed through all regions and districts in the country to other countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi.
Mr Mbarawa added that the sector was still facing many challenges which needed immediate solution including up to date ICT infrastructures, national data centre, clear national ICT policies, professional development and special organ to oversee cyber security.
The Deputy Minister for Communication, Science and Technology Mr January Makamba said that the commission among other functions would help in developing ICT infrastructure, application—software and hardware, business process outsourcing and setting special policies for developing the sector in the country and ensure cyber security in the country.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Christopher Majaliwa
Quelle/Source: Daily News, 01.07.2012
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