ZICTA is this week expected to close the bidding process for a fourth mobile operator.
ZICTA Director of Consumer Protection Mofya Chisala confirmed in an interview that that the authority will close the process of receiving bids for a fourth mobile operator at the end of this week.
Mr Chisala who could not disclose how many bids have been receiving so far could only state that the response from potential service providers has been good.
He said the bids will then be reviewed by a special committee after which a successful bid will be picked.
Mr Chisala said ZICTA will be careful in the selection process to ensure that only a qualify service provider is given a licence to operate a fourth mobile service in Zambia.
“We are going to be very careful in handling these bids. We don’t want any Jim and Jack to come into our market, with the experience we have gained so far, we are approaching this process with caution so that only a credible company is given a chance,” Mr Chisala said.
He added, “as you are aware, we set the bid price at K 1millon and one of the reasons was to ensure that only serious bidders come through because we don’t want jokers.”
Mr Chisala assured that by the start of 2018, the country will have a new fourth mobile service provider.
In August, ZICTA invited bids from potential investors to operate a forth mobile licence in Zambia after it changed the licensing regime.
Speculations among market players is high that Vodafone which already runs a data service in the country will be given the fourth mobile licence which will allow it to also offer voice services.
King Mswati smiling all the way to the Bank.
Sure. Vodafone with all their issues?
@Lombe , you seem to have the same inside information that I have too. These guys forget that whatever they can do in the dark still comes out. The meeting they had few weeks ago in mfuwe (King Mswati and Edgar) was about the same fourth mobile operator. Apparently the money is coming from Zambia which Edgar has stolen they have started operating a mobile phone system in Swaziland in partnership with King Mswati, pretending that they are opening a fourth mobile and that it will come from Swaziland. Lungu has opened this phone providing company in that country using one of his Right handyman to hide. The biding is fake this company has already been chosen. RB and Dora have made money already from the first deal they made to block all mobile companies not to operate in Zambia, because they…
Mofya Chisala is just a PF cadre in that position through patronage and not competence or competitive professional skills. It is an insult to insinuate that those who step forward with interest in the TelCo opportunities are jokers willing to shred $100,000 in a bid with probability of not winning. They may come in small capacity or big, one think Mofya seems ignorant about is that multinationals when going for opportunities in developing countries usually use trusted individuals or start-ups as fronts or proxies as their special purpose vehicles before they come brazing in full throttle. They do so in a spirit of protecting their reputation in test drive due to the usual uncertainties in corrupt and unstable markets without strong institution.
King Mswati coming to Zambian? ZICTA are so corrupt we want a forth operator to be owned by native Zambians enough nonsense with foreigners.
we are waiting we need jobs
This is the problem with a Zambian mind. Instead of them biding they want foreigners to bid and provide for them.
Yes, ZICTA must be careful to select the bider. Atleast the one that can be cheap enough for internate services. As much as we know, we are living in a smart world where everything are; e-services. We appleciate airtel and MTN service providers, we can find them everywhere in Zambia (including remote areas), but their tariffs are somehow high. Please choose the right company to increase competitiveness
Am sure Lazy Lungu already shaked hands on this with the King from the little Kingdom!!
Shook hands
Thank you!!
Shekedi . . .
Thank you !!
Deal already closed between Lungu and his counter part king mswati.which will be very bad for Vodafone who have already established themselves in the country.Mr president please stop these deals .
When Lazy was being sworn in the Bum couldn’t even afford a proper suit today he is a power player!!
and we all said kambwili was delusional
ZAMTEL Is simply the best, but the problem is network can government do something .we need our own strong and reliable
It will be Zambian owned, using Zambian money that has first gone for hand washing in Swaziland, it just wont be for all Zambians but for one Zambian and his croniines using the money gotten from all Zambians.. As confusing as how can someone plunder at such an alarming rate in such a short time!