Tanzania sional journalists themselves), almost all of the privately-owned media in Tanzania are not only owned by politicianscum-businessmen but, also there is heavy presence of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) cadres. Among 11 prominent media firms in Tanzania, nine are owned by politiciancum-businessmen who have known links to the CCM. These include, Rostam Aziz, Anthony Diallo, Nazir Karamagi, Aden Rage, among others. The other two media firms are owned by politicians who have known links to Chama cha Maendeleo na Demokrasia (CHADEMA), namely Freeman Mbowe and Ndesamburo. This means, despite all the praises, the claim of there being private media - and for that matter - a free press in Tanzania is questionable. ICT AND Telecommunications, New Media and Social Media ICT and new media in Tanzania have been on the rise in recent years in Tanzania. Tanzania is fourth (after South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya) in mobile phones penetration. Mobile phones were particularly used to reach village grassroots in the remotest parts of Tanzania during the 2010 elections. According to statistics, over 18 million mobile phones are registered in Tanzania. Social media (websites and blogs) in Tanzania are not required to register or obtain permission from state authority like in other media outlets such as print or broadcasting. Only Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to register. Social media were notably used for the 148 So This is Democracy • 2011 first time in the 2010 general elections where websites, blogs, networking sites like Facebook and Twitter were used to conduct election campaigns. Some of the renowned blogs and social forums in Tanzania include the Issa Michuzi (http:// issamichuzi.blogspot.com) and Jamii Forums (http://jamiiforums.com). Others are Abdallah Mrisho (http:// abdallahmrisho.blogspot.com), Food for Thought (http://haki-hakingowi.blogspot.com), Swahili Time (http://swahilitime.blogspot.com), Dr. Faustin Baraza (http://funguajicho.blogspot.com), Maggid Mjengwa (http://mjengwa.blogspot. com), Mohamed Dewji (http://mohameddewji.blogspot.com) and Wanabidii (http://wanabidii.blogspot.com). However, the Internet is accessed by only 1% of Tanzanian population. In response to this, Tanzania has embarked on infrastructural developments that will have - and in some cases are already having - impact on the country’s ICT sector and consequently social media or new media. They include the inauguration of the Seacom Fibre Optic Cable and the National ICT Optical Fibre Backbone Network project. The Seacom Fibre Optic Cable is the 17,000-kilometre undersea fibre optic cable that links South and East Africa countries to Europe and Asia. The cable provides broadband to countries in East Africa currently relying on satellite connections. These satellite connections are said to be more expensive. With increased bandwidth there will be a big boost in Internet services in the sense that more entrepreneurs will invest in this line of business which will operate