INTERNET PHONES ABUSED

...Foreigners benefiting more than Zambians

SUBSCRIBERS, mainly foreigners are using WhatsApp and other internet voice calls to avoid using normal tariff calls, thereby depriving local Mobile Network Operators of profits.

The Mobile Network Operators are suffering declining revenue as a result of the modern technology they have heavily invested in but now being used as a tariff free alternative by subscribers.

Most of the internet voice calls were being made by foreign nationals. According to statistics from ZICTA, mobile network operators’ earnings have been dwindling despite the number of active subscribers to mobile services increasing, an indication that internet phones are being used more than direct or voice calls. The statistics reveal that in 2011, the country had about 8,164,553 active subscribers to mobile services and that service providers had earned about K2, 534, 094, 042 in revenue.

In 2017 however, the revenue trajectory for mobile service providers reduced to K4, 766, 516 despite the number of active subscribers jumping to more than 13 million. And Ministry of Transport and Communication permanent secretary, Misheck Lungu explained that mobile service providers earnings were not proportionate to the population of subscribers was increasing because people were now making voice calls over internet.

Eng. Lungu told the Daily Nation in an interview that the major source of income for mobile network operators over the years had been on voice calls and messages, but that they were not tapping from internet calls. He said that most of the calls that were being made in the past were direct, compared to now when people have alternatives. Eng. Lungu explained that it was the reason government had proposed to introduce a 30 ngwee tariff per day or K9 per month, for using voice calls over internet.

“There is a diversion from normal voice calls which avoids a tariff which contributes to revenue for mobile service providers. This is the voice calls over internet protocol which currently there is no bill. In as much as we are paying something on data bundles, it’s not commensurate with the loss incurred on direct dialing,” said Eng. Lungu.

Eng. Lungu pointed out that the over 13, 000 number of active subscribers included foreign nationals who usually make voice calls over the internet.

He said that the 30 ngwee tariff which was being proposed would help make up for the loss which mobile service providers were incurring.

Eng. Lungu warned that if the communications sector was not thriving, there would be no jobs created as the service providers would be running at a loss.