Politics, Tanzania

Tanzania Advances First Communications Satellite Project.

September 17, 2025September 17, 2025By Mkufi Dindai
Tanzania Advances First Communications Satellite Project.

Tanzania is advancing its plans to launch the country’s first communications satellite, with new strategies unveiled to regulate radio spectrum and guide national space ambitions.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Dr. Jabiri Bakari, Director General of the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), said guidelines are now in place for satellite filings under Tanzania’s name. He stressed that operators must apply for radio spectrum through TCRA before any launch, noting that a new spectrum strategy has been designed to manage demand for the next decade.

Alongside spectrum management, the government is preparing a National Outer Space Strategy and plans to establish a space agency to coordinate future projects. Dr. Bakari said the framework will support emerging technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Smart City infrastructure, all of which are driving demand for spectrum resources.

TCRA data shows strong growth in automation, with 1.08 million SIM cards registered for machine-to-machine (M2M) use by June 2025, up from 929,683 in March 2024, alongside over 91 million interpersonal SIM registrations.

Experts at the stakeholder event said satellite technology will complement this growth by enhancing access to education, information, and business opportunities. Dr. Ubumi Bununu, a satellite communications expert, highlighted broadcasting as a cost-effective way to connect large audiences and strengthen social and economic participation.

The government is also moving to align with international space governance. In May, Communications Minister Jerry Silaa told parliament that Tanzania will ratify the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the 1975 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space. Tanzania also secured an orbital slot for its first satellite at the 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference in Dubai.

Officials say the satellite will play a critical role in bridging the digital divide, offering connectivity in remote areas, and positioning Tanzania as an emerging player in Africa’s growing space economy.