mobile phone

Vodacom Tanzania Limited is one of the largest telecommunications companies in Tanzania. As for January 18, 2007, Vodacom Tanzania had its 3 millionth customer and became the largest wireless telecommunications network in Tanzania (based on total wireless customers) followed by Celtel Tanzania. Vodacom Tanzania is the second telecom company in Africa, after Vodacom, to switch on its 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) which was available only in Dar Es Salaam in early 2007^[2].

Vodacom Tanzania always compete on advertises heavily to the youth market. In this way, the company has been using some swahili slang to coin and marketing its products such as VodaFasta, VodaFlava and Kama Kawa (Kama Kawaida)^{[citation needed]}. Historically, they have also pioneered new features; they were the first and exclusive Tanzanian carrier to launch video call, video messaging and 3G HSDPA USB Modem. As for January 11, 2008, Vodacom Tanzania was again the first and execlusive company to provide a free E-mail ID via a phone number ^[3].

The company was created in late 1999 as a subsidiary company of Vodacom based in South Africa. Vodacom Tanzania is a joint venture in which Vodacom Group owns a majority share portion of about 65%, the remaining portion is owned by Tanzanian shareholders that include Capsian Construction Ltd and Planetel Communications Ltd ^[4].By August 2000, the company completed its GSM infrastructure and went live on August 14, 2000. Vodacom Tanzania announced officially its commercial operations on August 15, 2000. Vodacom Tanzania became the largest mobile operator in the country within one year of launching and remains the largest mobile communications network operator in Tanzania up to date.

Vodacom Tanzania has its executive headquarter in 14th Floor PPF Towers Garden Avenue / Ohio Street in Dar Es Salaam and maintains operational and engineering branches in many regions in Tanzania. The company has active roaming agreements with many network operators in the world that include T-Mobile USA, Inc in USA, vodafone Ltd in UK and BPL Cellular (now Vodafone) in Kerala, India^[5]. The company distributes its products and services through a number of Super dealers and Vodashops. Vodacom is acceptable short name for the company within the country.