Tanzania’s internet blackout and ongoing X suspension have cost economy over $238m – Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) remains concerned about Tanzania’s election-period internet blackout, the continued suspension of X (formerly Twitter), and ongoing bandwidth throttling reported in parts of the country even after general connectivity was restored on November 3.

These disruptions are economically devastating and deeply damaging to digital rights. This blatant defiance comes against calls by the Net Rights Coalition and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to refrain from shutting down the internet, as this is an affront to freedom of expression and access to information in terms of articles 9 and 19 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, respectively.

Furthermore, there is a real economic loss incurred through internet shutdowns, which violates the right to development entrenched in Article 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Tanzania is a State party.

The internet shutdown during elections came at a time when the Tanzanian government suspended access to X since May 21, 2025.  According to the NetBlocks Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST), the two incidents have cost the Tanzanian economy more than $238 million (TZS560 billion) in direct losses to productivity, trade, and digital services.

• The nationwide total internet shutdown, which lasted from 29 October to 3 November 2025, spanning five days and six hours (126 hours), translates to a loss of at least $72,333,826 (TZS170.27 billion), which is about US $13.8 million (TZS32 billion) per day.
• Suspension of X, which has been in force since May 21, 2025 (166 days and counting), translates to a loss of US $165,817,059 (TZS 390.33 billion), which is nearly $1 million (TZS2.3 billion) per day.
• Combined economic loss translates to over $238 million (TZS560 billion) in direct losses to productivity, trade, and digital services.
• Other losses include socio-political, security, information black markets, health setback, informal economy (mobile payments, etc), and more.

NetBlocks’ COST model, which draws on data from the World Bank, ITU, and Eurostat, uses the Brookings Institution methodology to quantify the direct economic harm of shutdowns and platform blocks. The tool is recognised globally for offering conservative, evidence-based estimates used by governments, the UN, and civil society researchers.

“Every shutdown chips away at trust, investment, and human potential,” said ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative. “Governments must realise that in today’s world, connectivity is the foundation of opportunity. Shutting down the internet silences citizens, stalls economies, and sets entire nations back.”

PIN also reminds the government of Tanzania of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Resolution 580 on Internet Shutdowns and Elections in Africa, which calls on state parties to take the necessary legislative and other measures to ensure unrestricted and uninterrupted access to the internet in the period leading up to, during and after elections.

As such, PIN calls on the Government of Tanzania to comply with human rights by doing the following:

1. Immediately restore internet access to X and all restricted platforms.
2. Cease further internet or platform disruptions, especially during democratic processes.
3. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) should guarantee network stability and freedom from interference, and publish transparency reports whenever they are ordered to shut down or throttle services by the State.