An online expert says Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet access, elaborating that “a common misconception is that the term Wi-Fi is short for wireless fidelity,” as it is broadly understood.
Mathew Kundo, Information, Communication and Information Technology deputy minister, said in the legislature here yesterday that the government is investing in digital space to enhance the sector’s contribution to the economy.
Janeth Mahawanga (Special Seats) had demanded government plans to install open internet access hotspots in public places and social service centres to foster development, which the government acknowledged was a vital need.
Internet access hotspots would support members of the public to engage in socio-economic initiatives with greater ease thus boost development and trade, the deputy minister noted.
For a start, the open internet hotspots have been installed in six centres, he said, listing them as Buhongwa in Mwanza, Kiembesamaki in Unguja, the College of Informatics and Virtual Education (CIVE) at the University of Dodoma, Tabora market and Lungemba College of Social Welfare in Mufindi District, Iringa Region.
Such hotspots will be installed in other areas until most districts are covered, depending on the availability of resources, he stated.
Justina Mashiba, CEO at Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF), said recently that the service provider is opening Wi-Fi centres at the cost of 174m/- per installation, on average.
The government is heavily investing in the communications sector by erecting telecommunication towers, open Wi-Fi centres in social service units, spreading tele-medicine and upgrading of networks, encompassed in the Digital Tanzania project, she said.
The government has issued 199bn/- for the construction of telecommunication towers in 1,242 wards countrywide, she said, elaborating that 1,087 wards now have telecommunication towers and work is proceeding on 155 other wards.
Installation of communications coverage facilities (towers) now covers 96 per cent of the country’s population, with the other portion set to be reached through the Tanzania digital project.
Moreover, she said, the country is also working on upgrading telecommunication networks from 2G to 3G for improvement of speed of internet access, elaborating that with the Digital Tanzania project, 763 towers will be upgraded to ease access to Internet services.
Already about 50-patients have consulted a doctor via telemedicine services at district and regional hospitals in Ruvuma, Tanga, Katavi, Nzega, Chato and Zanzibar.
The services were provided by experts at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI) and the Jakaya Kikwete Cancer Institute (JKCI), she added.
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