Govt paves way for more mobile operators

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 11:16:03 +0000

By OSCAR MALIPENGA

CABINET has approved a new mobile licensing framework to open up the telecommunication market beyond the current three mobile operators, Transport and Communications minister Brian Mushimba has told Parliament.

And Mr. Mushimba announced that Government, through his ministry, is in the process of establishing a computer assembly plant in the Lusaka Multi-facility Economic Zone whose main goal will be to make desktop computers, laptops and tablets.

He said the computer assembly plant was intended to supply smart gadgets to Zambia and the region and provide reasonably priced ICT devices, an enabler to increased citizens’ participation in the digital economy.

Delivering a ministerial statement, Mr. Mushimba told Members of Parliament that his ministry had been granted approval by Cabinet to introduce a converged licensing framework in the sector that aims at encouraging competition, maximizing network utilization and supporting innovation in the provision of ICT services in Zambia.

He said the approval will ensure provision of value for money through improved quality of services in a competitive environment.

He said Government was revising the existing policy and legal framework in the ICT sector in order to respond to the dynamics of the ICT industry to further enhance the existing conducive environment and ensure that ICT businesses thrive.

“Government is in the process of unbundling the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act No. 21 of 2009 into five distinct legislative Acts to be proposed to Parliament for enactment,” he said.

He named the Acts as e-Government, Cyber Security, Data Protection, e-Transaction and e-Commerce and the Cybercrime Bills.

Mr. Mushimba said the Cybercrime Bill was a penal law that would be used to prosecute cybercrime offences.

“Government will further propose to Parliament adjusting and updating of the Information and Communication Technology Act No. 15 of 2009 to strengthen the regulatory mandate assigned to the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) and provide the institution with clear enforcement capabilities for execution of statutory rules and procedures outlined in the Act.

“Government will also table before the floor of the august House, the ICT Society of Zambia Bill that aims to legitimately maintain control and oversight of all information and communication technology practices in Zambia as well as safeguard the interest of the public with a view of enforcing standards in the sector,” Mr. Mushimba said.