Vodafone has officially announced it has entered the Zambian market to provide data and fixed internet services.

The company said it has secured a partnership agreement with Afrimax, a 4G telecommunications service provider in sub-Saharan Africa to offer customers high speed 4G data services using the Vodafone Zambia brand.

Vodafone Partner Markets Chief Executive Officer Stefano Gastaut said, "We are delighted that Zambia will be joining the Vodafone partner market community as the next stage in our agreement with Afrimax for sub-Saharan Africa. We look forward to bringing the best high-speed 4G data services to customers and businesses in Zambia."

This is an indication that Vodafone Zambia will not provide mobile phone services locally.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has issued a statement denying reports that it has granted a fourth mobile phone licence to Mobile Broadband Zambia Limited trading as Vodafone Zambia.

Two months ago, Special Assistant to the President for Project Implementation and Monitoring Lucky Mulusa issued MTN, Airtel and Zamtel with a six-month ultimatum to improve their service delivery or face the reality of competing with the fourth mobile phone operator.

Mulusa said he is waiting for the ultimatum to elapse before facilitating the entry of an additional operator.

"The authority wishes to reassure members of the public that it has not issued a licence permitting any entity other than MTN, Airtel and Zamtel to provide voice services to the public. Such a licence is an individual licence, which under the current licensing framework, is issued through a competitive process," the regulator stated.

It added that Mobile Broadband Zambia was only assigned a Mobile Network Code (MNC) for network identification and to facilitate their service offering, but has not been assigned any subscriber numbers by ZICTA.

The authority added that Mobile Broadband Zambia Limited holds two licences: A-class Network (wireless internet) licence and A-class Service (internet) licence.

These licences only enable Mobile Broadband Zambia Limited to construct a data network and to provide data services to the public. Mobile Broadband Zambia Limited is therefore not allowed under the said licences to provide voice services, according to ZICTA.