Sep 04, 2009 (The Citizen/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Zain Tanzania has linked up to the Seacom undersea cable.

"Our customers should expect faster Internet services, higher quality voice calls, the elimination of slow dial-up connections, and a dramatic increase in bandwidth," it said in a statement in Dar es Salaam.

"This is a major milestone for Zain to bring the much-awaited bandwidth, speed and reliability to our customers, the business sector, and educational institutions," the statement quoted Zain Tanzania managing director Khaled Muhtadi as saying.

He said despite considerable developments in the digital sector in Africa over the last decade, the region still had the world's lowest telephone and Internet user penetration levels.

He is concerned that economic development in Eastern and Southern Africa has been held back by prohibitive ICT costs and limited communications infrastructure.

"Demand for bandwidth across Africa has been outstripping supply for some time, and the cable is crucial for the growth of business in the continent," he bemoaned.

Seacom, which was officially switched on by President Jakaya Kikwete on July 23, is expected to enhance broadband connectivity and lower service charges in East Africa.

Already Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited, Simbanet and Zanlink are connected to Seacom.

Seacom's high-capacity voice and data connectivity is a significant improvement over the existing satellite networks.

Meanwhile, Zain Tanzania yesterday donated 100 trolleys worth Sh26 million to newsvendors in Dar es Salaam. The vendors will also be selling simcards and providing simswap services.

<<The Citizen. Distributed AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). -- 09/07/2009>>