ACTIVE mobile cash accounts more than doubled over the past five years, rising from 35.3m in 2021 to 76.5m in December 2025, representing a 116 per cent increase, a new update affirms.

Dr Jabiri Bakari, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) director general, says in a September-December 2025 quarterly report that mobile money transactions grew by 68 per cent during the period, climbing from 3.75bn to 6.3bn.

Mobile money subscriptions—active SIM cards with accounts registering activity at least once in the preceding three months—now cover 72 per cent of all SIM cards used for interpersonal communication (M2M).

In December 2025, 105.8m active M2M SIM cards were being held, of which 76.5m were used for mobile money transactions, he said, affirming that mobile money services have revolutionized how Tanzanians handle their finances. It makes payments easier, transactions more secure and promotes digital financial inclusion across the country, he stated.

There was a 6.7 per cent increase in subscriptions and an 11 per cent rise in transactions during the period, with accounts growing from 71.7m to 76.5m, while transactions rose from 598.9m to 664.7m, the update indicated.

The mobile money market in Tanzania is characterised by a rather uneven distribution of subscriptions, with one operator accounting for slightly over two-fifths of all registered mobile money accounts, while two others collectively hold nearly half of the market. The remaining service providers share a relatively small portion, reflecting varying levels of reach, customer trust and service uptake across the country, it affirmed.

Usage patterns also differ significantly among mobile money subscribers, with one provider having an elevated average number of transactions per user, indicating more intensive use of its platform.

Another registered an especially low activity level, while average transactions per subscription varied widely across the market, suggesting differences in customer behaviour, service functionality and the extent to which mobile money is integrated into users’ daily financial activities, it explained.

Mobile money, introduced in Tanzania in 2007, has become a vital tool for daily transactions, enabling secure payments, facilitating digital commerce and creating new business models and employment opportunities.

The sector operates under a framework where TCRA licenses mobile network operators offering financial services, while the Bank of Tanzania regulates the financial aspects, guided by a memorandum of cooperation on mobile financial services, it added.