News / National
New telecoms licensing regime on the cards
23 Aug 2012 at 09:07hrs | Views
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe says it has completed crafting a new licensing regime for mobile phone operators to encourage co-operation between players as well as keep the country in line with emerging technologies.
The country's mobile phone operators - Econet, Net One and Telecel - are due to renew their operating licences next year and will be required to comply with the new laws.
Potraz director-general Engineer Charles Sibanda said the new laws would come into force soon.
"The work has been done. What is now left is the announcement by the policymaker and hopefully the announcement will be made soon," he said.
The new changes in the licensing regime include compulsory infrastructure sharing for telecom operators, and adoption of new sophisticated technologies.
"Our position on infrastructure sharing is that it should be done on commercial grounds. At the moment we do not have legislation in place to enforce that but it is one issue which will be fully addressed in the new licensing regime," Eng Sibanda said.
At the moment, the three networks are not fully sharing their infrastructure, reportedly due to disagreements and mistrust.
This has resulted in the three companies erecting identical infrastructure such as base stations on the same site instead of just sharing one.
Sharing is also anticipated to reduce the costs of laying out networks for the companies, which would in turn result in lower charges for consumers.
Owing to rapid developments in Information Communication Technology countries on the continent including Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa are in the process of adjusting their regulatory frameworks.
With fourth generation (4G) revolution yet to sweep through the local market, analysts have implored Potraz to hasten efforts to revise the existing licensing regime.
Zimbabwe is among the few developing countries which have embraced new sophisticated technologies including third generation (3G) broadband and video conferencing, commonly known as Skype.
The country's mobile phone operators - Econet, Net One and Telecel - are due to renew their operating licences next year and will be required to comply with the new laws.
Potraz director-general Engineer Charles Sibanda said the new laws would come into force soon.
"The work has been done. What is now left is the announcement by the policymaker and hopefully the announcement will be made soon," he said.
The new changes in the licensing regime include compulsory infrastructure sharing for telecom operators, and adoption of new sophisticated technologies.
"Our position on infrastructure sharing is that it should be done on commercial grounds. At the moment we do not have legislation in place to enforce that but it is one issue which will be fully addressed in the new licensing regime," Eng Sibanda said.
At the moment, the three networks are not fully sharing their infrastructure, reportedly due to disagreements and mistrust.
This has resulted in the three companies erecting identical infrastructure such as base stations on the same site instead of just sharing one.
Sharing is also anticipated to reduce the costs of laying out networks for the companies, which would in turn result in lower charges for consumers.
Owing to rapid developments in Information Communication Technology countries on the continent including Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa are in the process of adjusting their regulatory frameworks.
With fourth generation (4G) revolution yet to sweep through the local market, analysts have implored Potraz to hasten efforts to revise the existing licensing regime.
Zimbabwe is among the few developing countries which have embraced new sophisticated technologies including third generation (3G) broadband and video conferencing, commonly known as Skype.
Source - New Ziana.
