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Uzi, ZICTA bump heads over licence conditions

By , ITWeb’s Zambian correspondent.
Zambia , 20 Jun 2018

Uzi, ZICTA bump heads over licence conditions

There are still unresolved issues between Zambia's ICT Authority (ZICTA) and the country's fourth mobile phone operator Uzi Zambia Limited over licence conditions, according to the country's Minister of Communication and Transport Brian Mushimba.

Mushimba did not reveal details and said only, "As far as I know, there are engagements between ZICTA and Uzi Zambia over licence terms and conditions which should be over by month end, in readiness for the operator to start rolling out the network. Otherwise for now, the two parties have not yet resolved some problems to do with license conditions."

In March 2018 Uzi Zambia was issued a network licence valid for 15 years, but there is no progress yet in terms of roll out.

Sources close to the company told ITWeb Africa that some are not satisfied with the deadline of one year in which to provide 100% network coverage and believe more time is required to extend reach to unserved areas.

Sources also said as a new entrant into the Zambian market, the company is pushing for some sort of tax relief on the importation of equipment in order for it to fast track roll out.

The Zambian market is currently dominated by MTN Zambia with over 6 million subscribers, followed by Airtel Zambia with just above 5 million customers and Zamtel with close to 2.5 million customers.

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