Zambia ICT Sector Performance Review 2010 - Research ICT Africa
Zambia ICT Sector Performance Review 2010 - Research ICT Africa
Zambia ICT Sector Performance Review 2010 - Research ICT Africa
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Towards Evidence-based <strong>ICT</strong> Policy and Regulation<br />
Access to information<br />
and the capacity to<br />
communicate have<br />
significantly increased<br />
with the advent of the<br />
Internet, digital<br />
satellite and mobile<br />
networks over the last<br />
decades.<br />
Market Structure Analysis<br />
The telecommunications sector in <strong>Zambia</strong> has experienced significant changes since the<br />
mid-1990s. Access to information and the capacity to communicate have significantly increased<br />
with the advent of the Internet, digital satellite and mobile networks over the past two decades.<br />
Table 4 below provides an overview of the telecommunications sector market structure in <strong>Zambia</strong>.<br />
With the exception of fixed-line and international voice services, the telecommunication sector is<br />
open to competition, with no restrictions on foreign ownership.<br />
Table 4: Telecommunications Market Structure 19<br />
PSTN<br />
International Voice<br />
National Voice<br />
Local Loop – Voice<br />
Mobile<br />
Internet<br />
Sub-<strong>Sector</strong><br />
Private Data Networks (VSAT & Leased Lines)<br />
Monopoly<br />
Monopoly<br />
Competitive<br />
Competitive<br />
Competitive<br />
Competitive<br />
Competitive<br />
Status<br />
Interestingly, the monopoly on the international gateway has prevented Zain, the dominant<br />
operator in <strong>Zambia</strong>, from joining Zain’s One Network and ending roaming charges between its<br />
<strong>Zambia</strong>n operations and the dozens of countries in <strong>Africa</strong> and the Middle East on Zain’s One<br />
Network. As in other markets, Zain’s termination of mobile charges would have been likely to be<br />
followed by other operators (had they all had cost-based access or ownership of an international<br />
gateway license), with positive effects on consumer welfare.<br />
As of 2009, the Authority had issued 53 licences as shown in the table below.<br />
Table 5: Type and Number of Licenses Issued<br />
LICENCE TYPE<br />
Mobile Cellular 03<br />
Internet Service Provision 19<br />
Private Network 24<br />
Carrier of Carriers 03<br />
PSTN 01<br />
Basic Voice Services 01<br />
Public Payphones 01<br />
Public Data Transport 01<br />
Total Licenses 53<br />
LICENSEES<br />
Source: Z<strong>ICT</strong>A<br />
Fixed Line and International Voice Services<br />
Though private and foreign ownership are permitted, entry has been severely curtailed by<br />
prohibitively high license fees, leaving ZAMTEL as the only provider of fixed lines and international<br />
voice services in <strong>Zambia</strong>.<br />
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