Dar es Salaam. The Information and Communication Technology Commission (ICTC) has commended the government for its decision to establish the National Physical Address System Exhibition, describing it as a crucial platform for educating the public on the role of addresses in the digital economy.
Speaking at the inaugural exhibition, ICTC director general, Dr Nkundwe Mwasaga, said that the National Physical Address System serves as a key identification tool that facilitates the efficient service provision, which fosters socio-economic development.
He said that in this era where the 4th, 5th, and 6th industrial revolutions rely on the use of ICT, the involvement of the ICT Commission in providing education to Tanzanians is crucial because it plays a part in supporting the existence of robust identification systems.
“In these exhibitions, it is very important for us as a Commission, but also for the nation as a whole, to continue reaching out to Tanzanians in urban and rural areas so they can understand the importance of digital residential addresses,” Dr Mwasaga said.
“This will enable everyone to participate in building the digital economy.
“Globally, it is recognized that the digital economy is the economy of the people. For people to be able to use systems to carry out their digital activities, they need to be assured of access to services in their areas, whether at the office or at home.
“Therefore, in digital identification, the address is very fundamental.”
Dr Mwasaga urged innovators to intensify efforts in developing solutions tailored for Tanzanians.
The exhibition, launched by the minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa, in Dodoma, is themed Identify and Utilise Your Address to Simplify Service Delivery.
It has brought together key stakeholders, including from the ministry of Communication and Information Technology, President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development.
Other participants include the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), Tanzania Posts Corporation, National Identification Authority (NIDA), Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF) and the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation Limited (TTCL).
And yet others are TCRA Consumer Consultative Council (TCRA CCC), National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and the Personal Data Protection Commission.
Leading telecommunications companies such as YAS, financial institutions like NMB, and entities such as the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) are also taking part.
The government, through ICTC, is making significant investments to advance the ICT sector, with a strong focus on establishing regional technology innovation hubs in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Mwanza, Mbeya, Dodoma, Tanga and Zanzibar.
Additionally, plans are underway to set up ICT equipment repair and manufacturing centres in Arusha and Dar es Salaam.
To ensure nationwide access to digital innovation opportunities, the government is also working on developing district-level ICT hubs, with initial beneficiaries including Masasi, Kibaha, Rufiji, Tanganyika, Bukoba and Butiama.
