Rural connectivity in Tanzania: options and challenges in 2007

The purpose of this report is to enable organisations engaged in rural development to make informed decisions on rural connectivity and Internet access in Tanzania. It also aims to demystify the technical issues associated with obtaining connectivity and Internet access, which often confuse lay-persons. The report also provides a general inventory of connectivity options and costs. As energy is a major concern for rural connectivity, the second part examines this issue and outlines the potential use and cost of alternative energy sources such as solar power, wind, hydropower and bio-mass.

Providing this overview is by no means a one-off exercise. Rather, it is a work in progress as connectivity options and costs change rapidly. The report is a revised and updated edition of an earlier study into connectivity options and costs in Tanzania, the results of which were first published in May 2006. Future follow-up studies are planned. Their findings will be published on a bi-annual basis.

If, after reading this report, individuals or organisations can critically and analytically study the options available to them and achieve Internet connectivity that is efficient and cost-effective in remote and rural areas, then the report will have fulfilled its purpose.