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Zambia says no license for fourth mobile phone operator

Xinhua, June 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Zambia's telecommunication regulator on Wednesday refuted media reports that it had issued a license for the entry of a fourth mobile phone operator.

There have been reports in some local media that the telecommunication regulator has given a license for the entry of a fourth operator onto the market.

This follows the entrance onto the market by Vodafone Group Plc, a British multinational telecommunications company which has entered into a partnership agreement with Afrimax Group to offer high-speed mobile-data and Internet services in Zambia.

The partnership will also offer 4G data services in Zambia.

Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) Public Relations Manager Ngabo Nakonde said the regulator has not issued any license for a fourth mobile phone company.

She said Vodafone has only been provided a license for class network, which is wireless internet and class service which is fixed line internet license.

"In light of the rising speculations from the general public and other stakeholders, as evidenced by the numerous inquiries that the Authority has been receiving, the Authority wishes to dispel the perception that Mobile Broadband Zambia Limited trading as Vodafone Zambia is entering the market as a voice provider," she said in a statement.

She said that the license will only enable the company construct a data network and to provide data services to the public, adding that the license does not provide for the offering of voice services.

Its scope of operations and service offering will be strictly limited to the provision of mobile data services and not voice services, she added.

Currently, Zambia only has three mobile phone operators namely MTN Zambia, a subsidiary of South Africa's MTN, Airtel Zambia, a subsidiary of India's Bharti Airtel Limited and Cell Z, a subsidiary of state-owned Zamtel.

Consumers have long called for the entrance of a fourth mobile phone provider to enhance competition and improve service delivery.

South-African-based Vodacom Group has been eyeing to enter the Zambian market for years. Endit