Yas and ZICTIA aim to expand broadband access in Zanzibar

Details: Vaughan O'Grady; Category: Optical & Fixed Networks; 24 June 2026; 410 views

The government of Zanzibar has announced a public-private partnership agreement with Yas Fibre, the broadband division of operator Yas Tanzania, to expand broadband infrastructure in the semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of East Africa in Tanzania.

Estimated to cost some TZS300 billion (about US$114.5 million) and extending over 20 years, the rollout aims to accelerate digital transformation and widen internet access

Under the agreement – between Yas Fibre and the Zanzibar Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Agency (ZICTIA) – around 100,000 households are expected to be connected to high-speed internet within the first three years of implementation.

The project is described as among Zanzibar’s largest long-term investments in digital infrastructure.

The investment aims to expand access to reliable and affordable internet for households, businesses and institutions across the two biggest islands, Ungujal (the main island) and Pemba. Tourism, a major local industry, is likely also to be a beneficiary. Tourism facilities still face connectivity challenges affecting visitor experience and operations.

Indeed, demand for internet services has risen sharply due to a growing reliance on digital systems in trade, education, health, tourism and public administration.

The project aligns with the Zanzibar Development Plan and Vision 2050, both of which prioritise ICT as a driver of transformation. ZICTIA managing director Shukuru Awadhi Suleiman has said the project would combine government backbone infrastructure with private last-mile investment to deliver more affordable broadband.

Tanzanian news service The Citizen reports that construction has already begun ahead of the formal signing, with rollout starting in Stone Town, the old part of Zanzibar City (the main city), before expanding across Zanzibar.