In a move to accelerate smartphone penetration and bridge the digital divide in the country, Vodacom Tanzania PLC and CRDB Bank have partnered to come up with a smartphone financing plan, allowing more Tanzanians to access quality and affordable smartphones.

Speaking during the launch of the collaboration in Dar es Salaam, the Vodacom Tanzania Managing Director, Philip Besiimire, explained that the telco deploys various initiatives to lower the cost of devices including subsidizing feature phones and device financing options that accelerate the shift from 2G to 4G-enabled smartphones and leverages partnerships to reach more customers.

 “As a stakeholder and partner in the communication and technology sector, Vodacom is proud to launch this collaboration with CRDB Bank, a respected financial institution in the country. Our collaboration will allow us to extend smartphone loans to more customers at an affordable cost and flexible payment plans,” detailed Besiimire.

On his part, the Managing Director of CRDB Bank, Abdulmajid Nsekela, said: "Our partnership is an opportunity for Tanzanian to access affordable financial and communication services. We are responsible for supporting the government's efforts to ensure that everyone can benefit from these sectors' growth and development."

It was highlighted that despite the country’s efforts to deploy mobile broadband services, many customers are still using 2G devices. This limits their access to the opportunities available online as well as enjoying and benefitting from other innovative digital products.

Access to smartphones and the internet has a positive impact to the community such as stimulating economic growth by enabling digital entrepreneurship and fostering innovation, digital service adoption, enhancing digital literacy and many more others.

Nsekela was of the view that different innovative products offered by the two firms stand to benefit and significantly change their customers’ lives.