(Ecofin Agency) - The Tanzanian telecom regulator regularly assesses the quality of the services provided by mobile network operators. Those assessments allow it to identify deficiencies and instruct operators on problems to fix to provide better services to the subscribers. 

In Tanzania, telecom operators are ordered to improve the quality of their voice, data, and SMS services. The instruction was given by the Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) during a meeting with operators last Tuesday, July 12. The instruction notably concerns 15 districts where the services are below the quality required. 

During the meeting, the regulator asked Vodacom Tanzania, MIC Tanzania (Tigo), Airtel, TTCL, and Halotel to elaborate plans to improve their services in the targeted districts. "After that, TCRA will do another assessment before end of the year to see if they have worked in any regions where the quality of the services has been deemed to be subpar,” said Mwesiga Barongo, TCRA principal telecom engineer.

Operators also promised to improve their services as recommended by the TCRA to ensure quality services for their subscribers.

“We are committed to making sure that we comply with all the instructions given to us by the authority, and we will make sure we follow all directives unremittingly as provided by our regulator,” said Vodacom’s network director Andrew Lupembe.

The regulator's initiative follows quality of service (QoS) measurements taken earlier this year in line with its mission to ensure quality services to local users, amid growing demand. Last May, the government opened the 5G market for investments and asked the TCRA to allocate spectrum to service providers, which are ready for 5G trials. 

Isaac K. Kassouwi