• Yas Tanzania launches smartphone financing program with China’s ZTE.

• Smartphones make up only 36.75% of mobile devices despite 92.7m subscriptions.

• Operator holds 28.8% Internet share and aims to boost growth through affordability.

Yas Tanzania, a subsidiary of Axian Telecom, has launched a smartphone financing program in partnership with Chinese manufacturer ZTE, local media reported. The initiative allows customers to purchase devices through installment payments, helping the operator strengthen its position in the country’s mobile Internet market.

“At YAS, our mission goes beyond providing connectivity, we aim to empower Tanzanians by enabling access to affordable smartphones and reliable internet, unlocking opportunities in education, business and everyday life,” said Jorge Soto, chief commercial officer at Yas, during the launch of new ZTE models, according to Daily News.

The GSMA, the global association of mobile operators, notes that the high cost of compatible devices, especially smartphones, remains one of the biggest barriers to mobile Internet adoption. In 2023, about 40 million Tanzanians did not use mobile Internet, placing the country fourth in Africa for usage gap, tied with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tanzania had a population of 66.6 million that year, according to the World Bank.

By June 2025, Tanzania counted 92.7 million mobile subscriptions, data from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) shows. However, the actual number of subscribers is lower, as many people hold multiple SIM cards. The regulator also reported that most subscriptions were linked to basic phones (84.97%), while smartphones represented just 36.75%.

The rollout of more affordable smartphones could attract new Internet subscribers previously held back by high device prices. As of June 2025, Yas controlled 28.8% of the mobile Internet market, with 15.5 million subscribers, behind Vodacom at 32.8%. Airtel (20.3%), Halotel (15.1%), and TTCL (3%) shared the rest.

The partners see smartphone penetration as closely tied to higher Internet use for services such as digital entertainment, e-learning, mobile payments, and professional connectivity. This growth could in turn lift operator revenues. In the first half of 2025, Yas contributed 33% of Axian Telecom’s total revenue of $775 million, or $255.75 million.