By OLIVER SAMBOKO
THE Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has called for the immediate revocation of the license awarded to Beeline Communications, for delaying to start its operations the 4th mobile Communication provider.
ZACA executive secretary Zuba Sakala said government should re-advertise the license, because the continued delays by Beeline Communications to start operations is robbing the consumers of an opportunity to have a variety of providers.
Mr Sakala said there is a likelihood that Beeline Communication might not commence operations like the case with UZI, which despite several license extensions, the mobile company failed to start operations.
He said what happened previously where UZI Zambia was issued a license but failed to operate should not be allowed to reoccur.
Beeline Communications was awarded license in February by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) to operate as the 4th mobile service provider.
This followed revocation of the license issued in 2018, to UZI Zambia, a unit of Unitel International Holdings B.V, registered in the Netherlands.
Mr Sakala said the delay by Beeline Communication to commence operations as 4th mobile service provider is of great concern to ZACA, and called for an urgent action by government to arrest the situation.
He said consumers are eager to have the 4th mobile service provider that will give competition to the three existing providers, which will not only result in better service but also reduced rates.
Mr Sakala said ZACA is following the issue with keen interest and will not allow Beeline Communications to behave in the manner UZI did.
