Is the internet good in Stone Town?
Median fixed broadband in Tanzania is 41 Mbps and mobile is 33 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Café and hotel wifi is variable and slows in the evening; mobile data is the dependable backup.
Getting online in Stone Town
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Fibre in some hotels and apartments; most long stays rely on 4G routers or guesthouse wifi. |
| Cafés and coworking | Café and hotel wifi is variable and slows in the evening; mobile data is the dependable backup. |
| Outages | Power cuts are frequent; Zanzibar has had undersea cable and network disruptions. |
| Tourist SIM | Vodacom and Airtel kiosks at Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar airports; passport and fingerprint registration required. Coverage in parks is patchy. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | Vodacom Tanzania, Airtel Tanzania, Yas, Halotel |
| Monthly data plan | TSh15,000–40,000 ($5.7–15.1) |
| Blocked services | X (Twitter) was blocked in 2025 and the internet cut after the October 2025 election; VPN use is legally restricted. |
Coworking in Stone Town
There's no dedicated coworking scene here; people work from cafés and accommodation.
Internet speeds in Africa
National medians, Speedtest Global Index.
Quick answers
Is the internet fast in Stone Town?
Median fixed broadband in Tanzania is 41 Mbps and mobile is 33 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Café and hotel wifi is variable and slows in the evening; mobile data is the dependable backup.
Which SIM card should I get in Stone Town?
Vodacom and Airtel kiosks at Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar airports; passport and fingerprint registration required. Coverage in parks is patchy.
Can I use an eSIM in Tanzania?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
More about Stone Town
Going to Stone Town solo?
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Sources
- Speedtest Global Index: Tanzania
- Vodacom Tanzania
- Airtel Tanzania
- Yas
- Halotel
- Zanzibar Tourism Commission
- Azam Marine
- UNESCO World Heritage: Stone Town of Zanzibar
Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.