Lessons from internet disruptions in Tanzania

After arriving in Tanzania in May 2024, I joined two incredible local business leaders and a group of curious-minded Americans for a conversation that left a deep impression.

Gibson Kawago, an entrepreneur and inventor, focuses on electric vehicles in Africa and bringing power solutions to rural areas in Tanzania. Mary-Louise Kidaha is a project manager at RENEW, an investment firm that supports private-sector startups across Africa.

Just a week before we arrived, Tanzania experienced a severe internet and cellular outage that lasted nearly a week. Reflecting on the challenges caused by this disruption, Gibson shared a statement that was both simple and profound:

I paused and thought, I also believe I have internet. But what happens when this belief fails?

For businesses in Tanzania—and worldwide—internet connectivity is not just a luxury; it’s essential. From reaching customers to managing logistics and finances, internet access keeps businesses running smoothly. But when it vanishes, what do communities do?

In our hyper-connected world, losing internet access is almost unthinkable. Many businesses rely on online tools for operations, communication, and growth. It’s wild to consider that 50 years ago, nothing depended on the internet. Yet, this experience in Tanzania serves as a reminder to reflect on our dependence. How might we adapt if digital connectivity weren’t guaranteed? How can businesses, communities, and individuals build resilience, becoming less dependent on technology and more prepared for disruptions?

In July 2024, I witnessed a similar scenario when the CrowdStrike outage caused Windows systems to crash due to an update error. Business operations reliant on software came to a halt, with no secondary systems to fall back on.

I’ve also noticed a trend towards moving away from the cloud, opting instead for local solutions deemed “more secure.” An old friend recently announced his launch of meltcloud, which aims to bring workloads from the cloud back on-site. While the cloud is generally seen as safe, with regular backups and off-site storage, it still faces external threats. As we saw in Tanzania, anything overly reliant on internet infrastructure comes with added risk.

Then there’s the looming threat of Cyber Warfare. Growing up alongside the internet’s expansion, I often heard that a countrywide internet blackout could trigger panic. While living in fear isn’t practical, recognizing our increasing reliance on a single infrastructure system is essential.

This Tanzanian lesson from an accidental outage is particularly relevant for digital nomads, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who frequently face connectivity challenges while traveling. And while connectivity has improved all over the world, especially with innovations like Starlink which uses thousands of small satellites instead of a handful of small ones, hiccups in connectivity are bound to happen.

For those that rely on connectivity for their survival, perhaps it’s time to adopt the mindset that “we believe we have internet”— in other words, trusting our ability to adapt, connect, and continue, even when things don’t go as planned.