ZICTA Awards Zambian Company License To Become Fourth Mobile Service Provider
Zambia’s first telecommunication operator is set to become the fourth service provider in the sector. The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority -ZICTA has awarded Beeline Telecoms Limited with a service provider license. ZICTA Director General, Patrick Mutimushi says the decision to introduce a fourth mobile operator is meant to raise levels of competition following an analysis of the quality of services being provided by current sector players. Mr. Mutimushi says the mobile provider in question is a wholly Zambian owned company, awarded with International Network and National Service licenses which are with Associate Resources, including but not limited to frequency spectrum and numbers. He adds that Beeline Telecoms is required to commence operations within six months, failure to which, unless determined otherwise, the license will be revoked. In a statement obtained by Muvi TV News, Mr. Mutimushi says the analysis is in line with the regulatory mandate of ZICTA under the ICT ACT No. 15 of 2009, which includes for promotion of competition in the ICT sector. Mr. Mutimushi has also explained that the decision follows failure by UZI Zambia, which had been earlier issued with the license on September 4, 2018, to commence operations by March 3, 2019 which was the final deadline issued by ZICTA. He notes that this final deadline, which came after two other deadline extensions on November 30, 2019 and May 30, 2020 respectively, the Authority was left with no choice but cancel the license issued to UZI Zambia.
Zambia’s first telecommunication operator is set to become the fourth service provider in the sector. The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority -ZICTA has awarded Beeline Telecoms Limited with a service provider license. ZICTA Director General, Patrick Mutimushi says the decision to introduce a fourth mobile operator is meant to raise levels of competition following an analysis of the quality of services being provided by current sector players. Mr. Mutimushi says the mobile provider in question is a wholly Zambian owned company, awarded with International Network and National Service licenses which are with Associate Resources, including but not limited to frequency spectrum and numbers. He adds that Beeline Telecoms is required to commence operations within six months, failure to which, unless determined otherwise, the license will be revoked. In a statement obtained by Muvi TV News, Mr. Mutimushi says the analysis is in line with the regulatory mandate of ZICTA under the ICT ACT No. 15 of 2009, which includes for promotion of competition in the ICT sector. Mr. Mutimushi has also explained that the decision follows failure by UZI Zambia, which had been earlier issued with the license on September 4, 2018, to commence operations by March 3, 2019 which was the final deadline issued by ZICTA. He notes that this final deadline, which came after two other deadline extensions on November 30, 2019 and May 30, 2020 respectively, the Authority was left with no choice but cancel the license issued to UZI Zambia.