UZI ZAMBIA SET FOR LAUNCH
THE fourth mobile service provider has already complied with the set conditions of the licence req uired to establish business in Zambia, says Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba.
Mr Mushimba said UZI Zambia Limited has recommitted itself to investment in excess of US $400 million.
7he firm is expected to maNe an official launch within the second half of this year upon successfully meeting conditions required for setting up a mobile service company in Zambia.
“What has delayed the launch into the market are a couple of things which are required as conditions of the licence,” he said. He said it was a requirement by ZICTA that a company investing into the mobile phone service business must project an expansion programme into the rural areas.
Mr Mushimba explained that Government’s projection was to provide universal access to quality mobile services such as internet and other services to all Zambians regardless of whether they lived in the rural or urban areas.
He said another condition required the investor to provide for local participation in the operations of the business and ensure Zambians have a share as a franchise or shareholders on the stock exchange.
“UZI is Unitel, and has operations in Portugal, Ghana, Switzerland, and Angola and most likely has no local content in their makeup and ZICTA is saying Zambia has entrepreneurs who can be interested to own a part.
³$nd the last briefing , got from ZCTA was that UZI had requested for an extension of time to allow them meet the conditions, and that extension may be coming to an end,” he said.
The Minister further explained that UZI also needed time to study the Zambian market to help meet the conditions.
He expressed Government’s delight in the levels of commitment to creating an environment that allowed for competition to benefit the citizens.