INTERNATIONAL postal items handled by the Tanzania Posts Corporation (TPC) are showing signs of gradual increase, after a sharp decline in mail volumes from 2019 to 2021.

Dr Jabiri Bakari, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) director general, said at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the sector performance report for July to September 2024 shows a 74 percent increase in items posted internationally by the postal firm mid-2021 to 2023.

The latest communications sector status report suggests that there is significant rebound in international postal items handled by the national postal operator, as it processed 979,625 international items in 2023, up from 564,528 in 2021.

This indicates a reversal in its business trend from the decline experienced in previous years, he said, noting that despite the growth, TPC holds a modest 39 percent market share of domestic postal services.

The total number of items posted internationally plummeted from 2,873,312 in 2019 to 564,528 items recorded in 2021, he said, with experts attributing the recent upswing to advancements in information and communications technologies (ICT).

The shift has enabled real-time message delivery and improved operational efficiency, while the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the pace of adopting digital solutions in postal services, he stated.

“Resilient postal operators have leveraged these technologies to diversify their business models, adapting to changing consumer demands,” he said, affirming TCRA’s commitment to fostering transformation in the postal activity.

Digital platforms and automated systems will be used to enhance operations and accessibility, as postal services remain a critical element in the communications and freight ecosystem, he stated.

Transcending borders to connect people, businesses and governments, it facilitates communication and serves as the backbone of digital trading, logistics and even economic resilience, the director asserted.

With World Post Day on October 9, TCRA reaffirmed its dedication to integrating digital advancements in the postal sector, ensuring that service delivery is both efficient and user-friendly.

Currently, TCRA has licensed 145 postal service providers apart from TPC and a variety of courier companies categorized into six international courier service providers, two East African courier services, 47 domestic courier services, 16 intra-city courier services -and 74 intercity transporters, he said.

TCRA regularly engages with these courier companies to assess quality of service parameters, including timely delivery to maintain high service standards, he said, elaborating that a recent survey of 19 courier companies indicated that 37 percent met on-time delivery expectations.

Notable service providers like Air Tanzania, Precision Air, TanzMovers, Advanced Logistics, Delex Courier & Logistics Ltd, Ellymo Co. Ltd, and Segax were among those performing well, he specified.

The survey also highlighted that 12 companies failed to comply with the electronic and postal communications quality of service (QoS) regulations which include key performance indicators, such as the speed of service, defined as the transit time from when a mail piece is posted to its arrival at the destination, he added.