This report explores the socio-economic impact of connectivity for refugees in a large, rural camp setting in Tanzania. In 2016, Vodacom installed a 3G tower in Nyarugusu refugee camp for the first time, providing an opportunity to assess the impact of mobile connectivity on refugees. Today, Airtel, Halotel and Tigo also provide connectivity to refugees in the camp.
The purpose of this report is to provide robust evidence of the current use, value and impact of connectivity, and the barriers and challenges that refugees face in accessing and using mobile devices. This research provides mobile network operators (MNOs) and humanitarian agencies with key insights on the opportunities and barriers to enhancing the provision of mobile services to refugees.