SECTOR 2 2.11 The country has a coherent and comprehensive ICT policy framework and/or the government promotes and implements measures, which meet the information needs of the public, including underserved communities Tanzania is a leader in the deployment and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the East African region. Panellists said it was one of the first countries in the world to develop a mobile wallet technology and has an advanced telemedicine practice. Through universal access initiatives, the government funds connectivity projects, computer labs in schools and training for young people. Panellists stated that the government was devising ways to support technology ecosystems and young tech entrepreneurs with funding and special tax regimes for tech start-ups. The government’s support for ICTs has created impact across multiple sectors; notably banking, retail and e-commerce. A new national ICT policy was published in 2016 with a mission to ‘transform Tanzania into an ICT-enabled, knowledge-based economy through the development, deployment and sustainable exploitation of ICT to benefit every citizen and business’.22 Panellists said the policy was progressive and demonstrated a political commitment to the creation of a knowledge-driven society. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: Score of previous years: 34 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ 4.1 2006: n/a; 2008: n/a; 2010: 3.6 ; 2012: 3.3; 2015: 3.5