Helios Towers Completes 133 Rural Telecom Sites in Tanzania Under UCSAF Programme

Helios Towers,  a leading independent mobile infrastructure company operating across Africa and the Middle East, has announced the completion of 133 telecommunications sites, rolled out over the past two years, under the Universal Communications Service Access Fund (UCSAF).

Delivered in partnership with the Government of Tanzania, the UCSAF programme is designed to extend mobile network coverage to rural and underserved communities, helping to bridge the digital divide and unlock social and economic opportunities through advancing Tanzania’s digital transformation.

In addition to expanding coverage to underserved communities, Helios Towers has also supported 3G and 4G technology upgrades across all of its UCSAF deployments, ensuring faster and more reliable connectivity.

Tanzania remains a strategic market for Helios Towers, where the company has invested over USD 500 million to date, alongside contributing approximately USD 500 million in local taxes and levies – demonstrating its long-term commitment to the country’s development.

Since launching its operations in Tanzania in 2011, Helios Towers has delivered more than 4,200 sites nationwide, reinforcing its long-term partnership in advancing national connectivity goals. Of these, around 1,900 sites – nearly 45% of Helios Towers’ footprint in Tanzania – are located in rural areas, significantly improving access to communication services in previously unserved and underserved communities. Today, over 46 million Tanzanians live under Helios Towers’ tower footprint coverage.

This expanded connectivity is helping to transform lives by enabling access to mobile financial services, digital education, healthcare information, and e-government platforms – key enablers of Tanzania’s growing digital economy.

“The launch of these UCSAF sites marks an important step forward in connecting rural communities across Tanzania. With nearly half of our sites located in rural areas, we are proud to be extending reliable mobile coverage to areas that have historically been underserved. Connectivity is a powerful enabler of opportunity – supporting access to financial services, education, healthcare and information. Through our continued partnership with the Government of Tanzania and our customers, we are helping to build a more inclusive digital future for all Tanzanians.”

– David Dzigba, Managing Director, Helios Towers Tanzania

Looking ahead, Helios Towers remains committed to supporting the next phase of the UCSAF programme. The company is working closely with UCSAF to enable a strong rollout, while continuing to invest in infrastructure that accelerates digital inclusion and sustainable economic growth across Tanzania.