• Internet subscriptions in Tanzania rose to 56.3 million by September 2025, pushing internet penetration to 82.6% and driven largely by 4G and emerging 5G expansion.

• Telecom subscriptions hit 99.3 million, with Vodacom (31.5%), Yas (28.2%), and Airtel (21.9%) leading the market

• 5G coverage reached 28.9% of the population, while 4G and 3G networks now cover more than 94% of Tanzanians. 

Tanzania’s internet subscriptions rose 4.1% to 56.3 million users by September 2025, according to new data from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) in  its Communications Statistics Report Quarter ending September 2025. The surge reflects continued growth in mobile broadband usage, which now accounts for over 99% of total internet connections in the country.

The report shows that internet penetration reached 82.6%, up from 79%, driven by expanding 4G and emerging 5G coverage, particularly in urban centers such as Dar es Salaam and Mwanza. 5G population coverage now stands at 28.9%, while 4G and 3G cover 94.2% and 93.8% of the population respectively.

The number of active telecom subscriptions also climbed sharply—up 7.1% to 99.3 million—with Vodacom leading the market at 31.5%, followed by Yas (28.2%) and Airtel (21.9%). Local voice traffic reached 47.4 billion minutes, marking a 9.5% quarterly increase, reflecting robust consumer and enterprise demand.

Mobile money usage remains another bright spot. Subscriptions rose 5.3% to 71.7 million, while quarterly transactions surpassed 5.27 billion, underscoring the central role of mobile finance in Tanzania’s digital economy.

The findings reinforce Tanzania’s upward digital trajectory, supported by the government’s National ICT Policy 2025 and the Digital Tanzania Programme, a World Bank-backed initiative to expand broadband connectivity and strengthen digital public services. With over 80% of its population now online and mobile finance firmly embedded in daily life, the country is turning infrastructure into inclusion.

Hikmatu Bilali