ZAMBIA – The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has cancelled the network and service licences issued to Mobile Broadband Limited which trades as Vodafone Zambia Limited.
The cancellation is on the grounds that Vodafone has ceased to fulfil the eligibility by not being technically and financially capable of meeting the obligations and the terms and conditions of the licence.
Vodafone in 2016 licenced Afrimax, a telecommunications service provider in sub-Saharan Africa to offer customers high speed 4G data services using the Vodafone Zambia brand.
The company registered as Mobile Broadband Ltd has lately been experiencing operational problems and issued a statement saying its shareholders had failed to recapitalise it.
According to ZICTA Board Chairperson Emmanuel Musonda, the decision to cancel the licence was arrived at during a special meeting. Mr. Musonda notes that this is by not being technically and financially capable of meeting obligations and terms and conditions of its license.
Mr. Musonda has disclosed that the cancellation of the license issued to Mobile Broadband Limited will take effect 30 days after the 20th of September 2019.
Mr. Musonda explains that the cancellation of the license entails that Mobile Broadband will cease to operate as an Electronic Communication Service and Network provider under the Section 18(8) of the information and Communication Technologies Act,2009 which obligates the Authority to publish the suspension or cancellation of any licence.
He states that given that the cancellation has come at great inconvenience to customers, ZICTA expects Mobile Broadband will address all consumer issues arising from the cancellation of its license.
Vodafone Zambia has been in operation since 2016. With a core service offering of data services, 4G internet, WiFi connection and a range of devices.
Vodafone is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies and provides a range of services including voice, messaging, data and fixed communications. Vodafone has mobile operations in 26 countries, partners with mobile networks in 58 more, and fixed broadband operations in 17 markets. As of 31 March 2016, Vodafone had 462 million mobile customers and 13.4 million fixed broadband customers.
