Smile - Tanzania
Smile (Tanzania) uses 2 GSM bands, 1 UMTS band, and 1 LTE band. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with Smile (Tanzania). See the tables below for details.
Check device compatibilityCarrier website: http://smile.co.tz/
Smile Tanzania, formerly known as Smile Communication Tanzania Limited, is a telecommunications company that provides mobile network services in Tanzania. Here are some key points about Smile Tanzania:
Acquisition by Vodacom: In April 2024, Smile Tanzania was acquired by Vodacom Tanzania PLC (VTPLC) for TZS 68.8 billion ($27.4 million) on a debt-free, cash-free basis. This acquisition aims to support Vodacom's plans to enhance its 4G and 5G network services in Tanzania.
Network Coverage: Smile Tanzania had a relatively small market presence with only 15,171 subscribers as of March 2023, representing a 0.025% market share. The company had introduced its 4G LTE mobile broadband service in Tanzania in May 2013 and had grown its customer base to 13,840 mobile subscribers by 2023.
Spectrum Holdings: Smile Tanzania held spectrum in the 800MHz band, which Vodacom acquired as part of the deal. This spectrum addition is expected to enhance Vodacom's mobile coverage and capacity in various regions of Tanzania, including Pwani, Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma, Mwanza, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro, and Arusha.
Customer Base: Smile Tanzania's acquisition by Vodacom is expected to add a sizable number of new customers to Vodacom's growing market share. However, given Smile's small subscriber base, the impact on Vodacom's overall market share is minimal.
Market Position: As of December 2023, Vodacom led Tanzania's telecom market with 30% of total subscriptions, followed by Tigo (28%), Airtel (27%), Halotel (12%), and TTCL (3%).
Overall, Smile Tanzania's acquisition by Vodacom is a strategic move aimed at strengthening Vodacom's network infrastructure and improving its competitive position in Tanzania's telecom market.
Frequency Bands
GSM
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 900 MHz (E-GSM) | GSM | Smile Tanzania uses the GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band. The deployment date of this frequency band by Smile Tanzania is unknown. |
| 1800 MHz (DCS) | GSM | Smile Tanzania uses the GSM 1800 MHz (DCS) frequency band. This band operates within the 1.8 GHz frequency range, offering reduced signal interference and greater channel availability compared to the more crowded 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands used by GSM. The frequency ranges for GSM 1800 are: Uplink: 1710–1785 MHz; Downlink: 1805–1880 MHz. This band supports services such as voice communication, text messaging (SMS), and basic data communications, similar to GSM. It is known for its efficient use of the 1.8 GHz band through modulation schemes like Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). |
UMTS
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | UMTS | Smile Tanzania uses the UMTS B1 (2100 MHz) frequency band. The deployment date for this band is not specified. |
LTE
| Name | Interface | Description |
|---|---|---|
| B20 (800 MHz DD) | LTE | Smile Tanzania uses LTE B20 (800 MHz DD) for its LTE network deployments. This frequency band is known for its wide area coverage and deep penetration, making it suitable for regional and rural environments, as well as in-building coverage. It supports carrier aggregation with other bands to enhance bandwidth and performance. The 800 MHz band does not easily support Massive MIMO and beamforming technologies due to its large wavelength. |
