Vodacom to roll out 3G from the start of 2007

Vodacom Tanzania will begin rolling out a third-generation (3G) network from the start of next year, making it one of the first African countries outside South Africa to deploy the technology. The company’s Chief Operating Officer Pieter Uys told business journal Engineering News that the cellco is experiencing increased demand for data services from its existing customer base, and has seen revenue from data-based services rising by 30% in 2006, to ZAR65 million (USD9.1 million). Vodacom Tanzania has around 2.6 million subscribers, a market share of 55%, and expects to break the three million barrier in 2007.