Cluster III. Good governance: where the strategy aims at developing structures and systems of democratic governance that are participatory, representative, accountable and inclusive and
2.3 Telecommunication sector reforms
2.3.2 Tanzania ICT policy/e-strategy
2.3.1.4.3 Application service licence (ASL)
This licence authorises the reselling or procurement of services from network service operators. The salient feature of this licence is that the licensee does not own network infrastructure, nor operate the network. Examples are internet providers, virtual mobile providers, payphone services, public cellular services, IP telephony, public payphone service and public switched data service (Mfungahema 2006; TCRA 2007b; Ulanga 2005). Up to the end of 2006, TCRA had licenced twenty-four application service companies. One of them operates at international level, seven operate at national and international level, sixteen operate at national level and one operates at regional level (TCRA 2007c).
2.3.1.4.4 Content service licence (CSL)
This licence authorises the provision of content such as satellite broadcasting, terrestrial television broadcasting, terrestrial radio broadcasting and other electronic media (Mfungahema 2006; TCRA 2007b; Ulanga 2005). Up to June 2006, TCRA had given content service licences to thirty-seven national, regional and district (community) radio stations.
Twenty-one television stations were also licenced (TCRA 2007b).
national development goals. The overall policy mission of the Tanzania ICT policy is to enhance national economic growth and social progress through ICTs in all sectors (URT 2003a). To achieve this objective, the government wants to create an investment environment conducive to capacity building and encouraging multi-layered co-operation, locally and globally.
The policy outlines ten broad priority areas that need to be dealt with, to achieve the overall mission of the policy (URT 2003a). A few steps have been taken by the Tanzanian government to address some of the priority areas mentioned in the ICT policy. However, the overall implementation of the policy is still waiting for the implementation strategy document of the policy to be completed. The implementation strategy document for the Tanzania ICT policy is in the draft phase. The ten priority areas are discussed below.
2.3.2.1 Strategic ICT leadership
The government of Tanzania recognises the importance of leadership and governance structures to guide the ownership and development of domestic ICTs. To achieve these goals, the government is committed to increasing the use of ICTs for development of socio- economic and cultural purposes. The government also created a national governing body to co-ordinate ICT policy and implementation. The government is striving to create an appropriate investment climate for public-private partnerships.
2.3.2.2 ICT infrastructure
The government desire for ICT development is dependent on infrastructural development.
The government intends to ensure a reliable, nation-wide, state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure by supporting incentives, directives and institutions that expand ICTs. To ensure adequate ICT infrastructure development in the country, Tanzania is a member of the on-going project to connect the eastern side of the African continent to the international fibre optic network.
This project, commonly known as the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy), is set to run from Durban in South Africa to Port Sudan in Sudan (APC 2007; CIPESA 2006;
Mikenga 2006). EASSy is expected to lower costs of internet connectivity because it will enable operators to route their traffic via submarine cables, rather than via satellite
connections, which are much more expensive. Hence, if operators switch to the submarine cable they will ideally be able to charge lower end-user prices (CIPESA 2006).
2.3.2.3 ICT industry
The government intends to create a conducive business climate for investment and development by building direct relationships with ICT manufacturers and designers. These relationships will ease restrictions on trade and development and provide advice to the government on issues related to ICT development.
2.3.2.4 Human capital
The development of human capital is recognised as integral to the success of ICT and national development. Consequently, the government has committed to increasing and promoting education in ICT as a means of building a sustainable ICT transformation. Government intends to encourage and support ICT use throughout all education sectors, boost qualified ICT professionals and provide incentives for advancing ICT capacity.
2.3.2.5 Institutional arrangements, legal and regulatory framework
The government recognises that, prior to ICT development occurring, a suitable legal and regulatory framework must be established. The government intends to establish an enabling legal framework that is aligned with the constitution, legislative and regulatory environment and regional and international standards.
2.3.2.6 Productive sectors
These include manufacturing, agriculture and mining. Tanzania‟s economy is dependent on the producing sectors. The government is dedicated to meeting the needs and requirements of industry. The government‟s desire to expand the economic impact of ICT in development will involve fostering enterprise and innovation, through an appropriate economic environment.
2.3.2.7 Service sectors
The service sectors incorporate several industries and human resources sectors. The government specifically intends to highlight the cross-cutting nature of these sectors and
ICTs. The government intends to establish a conducive environment for secure e-commerce transactions; encourage ICT in financial services; enhance efficiency and continuity; develop and provide a national e-health system; and encourage e-tourism and internet cafés.
2.3.2.8 Public services
The facilitation of e-government services is essential to the efficient and effective dissemination and protection of data and service delivery throughout the nation. The government intends to lead by example by illustrating to both the public and the private sector the utility and benefits of ICT and digital services.
2.3.2.9 Local content
The government recognises the importance of balancing the importation of foreign influences with the creation and protection of local cultural values. To achieve this balance, the government intends to support the creation and development of ICT materials, encourage local content development, promote the inclusion of schools in local multi-media development and promote local content for electronic activities/services.
2.3.2.10 Universal access
The government wants to ensure universal access for all sectors of society. Of concern is the digital divide between access in urban and rural areas and national and international relations.
The government intends to promote literacy, while building universal access, promote and provide ICT to increase productivity and opportunities, develop peer-to-peer grassroots information sharing and create private-public partnerships to enhance access to services.
To sum up the discussion on the Tanzanian national ICT policy, the present researcher concludes by saying that, in spite of the good intentions and strategies outlines in the policy, policy-making is just a small part of the equation, especially in the fast-moving global ICT environment. Many African countries, including Tanzania, are facing challenges with regard to their e-strategies. Adam (2005) explains that, although the number of countries aiming to benefit from ICTs by developing their e-strategies is increasing and some of the ICT policies were useful in mobilising resources and attracting collaborators, the result of broad-based ICT policy implementation has been inadequate.
A review of the ICTs policy formulation process in Africa shows that it has been difficult to develop and implement policies and programmes that bring quick returns for the society and therefore the formulation and implementation of e-strategies has been sluggish in Africa (Adam 2005, Njuguna 2006; Wild 2003;). According to the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA 2003), while more than half of the countries in Africa have developed an ICT policy, only a few countries have embarked on policy implementation activities, with the rest of the countries still deliberating or said to be planning how to move ahead with policy implementation. Due to these challenges, the impact of e-strategies or ICT policies on development and poverty reduction, using ICTs, has been minimal compared to the energy, resources and time spent on them so far (Adam 2005).