radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.
ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries. The term is somewhat more common outside of the United States.
According to the European Commission, the importance of ICTs lies less in the technology itself than in its ability to create greater access to information and communication in underserved populations.
Many countries around the world have established organizations for the promotion of ICTs, because it is feared that unless less technologically advanced areas have a chance to catch up, the increasing technological advances in developed nations will only serve to exacerbate the already-existing economic gap between technological "have" and "have not" areas.
Internationally, the United Nations actively promotes ICTs for Development (ICT4D) as a means of bridging the digital divide.
Tanzania has achieved remarkable development in Information and Communication Technology becoming the first country in the world where mobile phone companies have agreed to shared money transactions (interoperability).
Through the system, mobile phone owners can send money to any mobile phone company at reduced cost, making Tanzania lead other countries globally in mobile money banking with an average of 4.5 trillion/- in transaction per month.
According to the Global microsope, Tanzania is ranked sixth among 55 countries in Africa with good environment for mobile money transactions.
Development of National ICT broadband backbone (NICTBB) in the country has also caused major boost to economic growth, reduced cost of communication from $20,000 per month in over 1000 kilometers to $ 160 per month, being 99 per cent reduction.
Other developments include ability to connect many citizens with communication through ICT, acknowledgement of ICT experts and establishment ICT departments in various government department.” he noted.
The new policy which is the improved version of the 2003 policy now open room for new development of ICT in the country, calling on all stakeholders to exploit opportunities in the sector.
The ICT sector is one of the key pillars in national economic growth as it has direct contribution as well as through other sectors.
We should praise the government for the bold step for this new policy because it will open up ICT investments in the country.
ICT open up new business opportunities and development for people especially youths with innovative minds because Tanzania has a growing technology with many youths trying use technology to create new things.
In the same vein we commended the government for giving helping hand to private sector to bring ICT services at affordable cost but there is need to have local content for the new policy will bring more innovation and more investments.
In the past there were no official guidelines for investment in ICT, causing a lot of problems and confusion for local investors who eyed investing in the sector.
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