Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:45:51 +0000
By Buumba Chimbulu
GOVERNMENT is seeking bidders for a fourth mobile-network provider following approval of the new licensing regime by Cabinet.
According to Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba, the ministry gave the go-ahead to the regulator Zambia Information Communications and Technology Authority (ZICTA) to start the process.
“ZICTA is at liberty to start the process of selecting a fourth or fifth mobile-network provider and we want to encourage them to do it transparently and in an open environment which means there will be a bidding process for the fourth and fifth mobile provider,” Mr. Mushimba said.
He said in a statement made available by the ministry’s public relations officer, Maimbolwa Mulikelela that Government was desirous to see the Information Communication Technology (ICT) and telecommunication industry grow from its current levels.
Mr. Mushimba said the new mobile-network providers could be in place over the next six to 12 months and the country may even have capacity for a fifth operator. He noted that communication costs in the country have been “rather” too high hence the need to bring in a fourth mobile-network provider.
“We recognise the cost of ICT’s, telecommunications and internet in Zambia has been rather on the high side and have been thinking as Government of ways to manage and lower the cost of ICT, and broaden the usage to have more people included in the use of internet, phones to bridge the gaps and also increase social economic activities of the country,” Mr. Mushimba said.
“The market analysis that we have done supports the fact that we can have a fourth licensee and possibly a fifth and still the market will be profitable,” Mr. Mushimba said.
Currently, the mobile network providers are MTN Group Limited, India’s Bharti Airtel and state owned Zambia Telecommunications Corporation.
