1 INTRODUCTION 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) advances since the end of the 20th Century have led to multiple convergences of content, computing, telecommunications and broadcasting. They have brought about changes in other areas, particularly in knowledge management and human resources development. Increasing capacity of ICT has further been empowered by the growth of a global network of computer networks known as the Internet. It has impacted the way business is conducted, facilitated learning and knowledge sharing, generated global information flows, empowered citizens and communities in ways that have redefined governance, and have created significant wealth and economic growth resulting in a global information society. The gap between those able, and those unable, to participate in the knowledge economy is currently termed as the “digital divide.” This digital divide is evident within nations, and between the developing and the developed world. The current Tanzania ICT situation requires urgent steps to enable Tanzanians to participate meaningfully in the knowledge economy, recognising that Tanzania has low levels of human capital development, local content creation, ICT infrastructure and access, which together lead to high costs of participation. The dangers posed by the digital divide, and the risk of being excluded further from the knowledge economy and social development, has propelled the Government to put in place a policy framework through which coordinating mechanisms and harmonized strategies might be nurtured. This policy framework makes it possible for “enabling sectors” (such as telecommunications, information, or broadcasting) to work together whereby “enabled sectors” (such as education, health, governance, or agriculture) can become further empowered through the appropriate development and application of ICT. ICT is both cross-sectoral and a sector in its own right. An ICT policy has to relate to other relevant sectoral policies, whether they are infrastructural (such as telecommunications or ecommerce), or vertical (such as education, tourism, manufacturing or health), or horizontal (such as information, or governance). Consequently, in addition to developing and implementing an ICT policy, other relevant sectoral policies and their related institutions and regulations must accommodate ICT and its multiple convergences. It is also necessary to review existing legislation, thereby enacting requisite changes while introducing new legislation to create the appropriate legal framework within which this policy will be implemented. Tanzania achieved notable progress in deploying ICT notwithstanding the 1974 Prohibition Order on Electronic Computers and Television Sets. The achievements were a result of various adjustments since the early nineties in policy, regulatory and commercial facets, both macroeconomic and within ICT’s converging sectors. The private sector has actively contributed to these achievements by investing in among others, support facilities, training centres and sales outlets. These efforts have enabled government departments, institutions of learning, NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), as well as other entrepreneurs; acquire ICT solutions that address their individual problems most appropriately. The lack of an overall policy and poor harmonisation of initiatives, have led to random adoption of different systems and standards, unnecessary duplication of effort, and waste of scarce resources, especially through the loss of potential synergies. Therefore, this National ICT policy deploys a broad-based national strategy to address Tanzania’s developmental agenda. Appropriate institutional arrangements are to be created to ensure that all stakeholders can rise to the challenge of implementing this ICT policy. Page 1