THE Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has amended five key Electronic and Postal Communications Regulations to streamline licensee obligations and enhance the quality of services offered to consumers across the country.

The revised regulations, published on TCRA’s official website (www.tcra.go.tz), introduce several notable changes, including a new requirement for licensees to establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with corporate clients or directly connected customers. This measure is expected to strengthen accountability and service consistency across the sector.

Another major reform includes a relaxation of reporting timelines, extending the period for quarterly income statement submissions from 14 to 21 days, thereby easing administrative pressure on licensees.

TCRA’s licensing regime covers various categories such as network facilities, network services, application services, and broadcasting content. Under this framework:

Network facilities licensees are permitted to construct, own, and maintain telecommunications infrastructure.

Service providers may offer services using either their own or third-party infrastructure.

Application service licensees provide data and content-based services.

TCRA also manages electronic communications resources, including radio frequency spectrum, numbering, and the type-approval of electronic devices. The authority boasts one of the most advanced Type-Approval Laboratories on the continent, with a global reputation for quality testing and certification.

According to the January–March 2025 communications sector report, issued by TCRA Director General Dr. Jabiri Bakari, the industry has experienced substantial growth across licensing, infrastructure, and usage metrics.

Key highlights include: Network facilities licences rose by 26 percent, from 35 in March 2024 to 44 in March 2025.

Network services licences increased from 14 to 18, while application services licences climbed from 135 to 144.

Postal and courier services licences expanded from 134 to 151.

Type-approval certificates issued soared by 124.5 percent, from 2,281 to 5,120.

In the broadcasting segment:

Radio stations grew from 231 to 250, and subscription-based TV services rose from 25 to 31.

Free-to-air television stations remained at 30 as of March 2025.

A notable jump in infrastructure deployment, including new base stations and communication nodes, drove a 35 percent increase in SIM card registration between September 2023 and March 2025, from 67 million to over 90 million.

Additionally, application service licences played a pivotal role in boosting internet subscriptions by 67 percent, rising from 29 million in March 2021 to over 49 million in March 2025.

The regulatory updates reflect TCRA’s strategic intent to foster a more efficient, responsive, and innovation-friendly telecommunications environment in Tanzania.

By balancing regulatory oversight with operational flexibility, the reforms aim to support licensee compliance while ensuring that end users receive reliable and high-quality digital communication services in line with national development goals.