• Fourth mobile operator has brought relief and hope in the Communication industry.
• It will increase competition on the market and hopefully improve service delivery.
• It will provide jobs for the youth because unemployment has been quite high.

Consumer Unity Trust Society (CUTS) says the coming on board of a fourth mobile service provider, Beeline Telecoms Limited will stimulate competition on the market.
Organization Assistant Programmes Officer Ucizi Ngulube told Money FM News in an interview that the new telecommunication company will also help improve service delivery.
Mr. Ngulube, who is also CSO Alliance Debt Secretary, said the development will further enhance customer experience, stating that discussions about a Fourth telecommunication Company have been going on for some time and it is a good thing for the country that it is now happening.
“A Fourth mobile service provider will increase competition on the market and hopefully improve service delivery as well in the country.”
“The discussion about a Fourth mobile subscriber has been there for some time and that it is happening now is a good thing for the country, especially as you hear complaints about the three existing providers on issues like poor connectivity and the like. So I think it is a good thing and hopefully it will improve customer experience,” Mr. Ngulube said.
And Mr. Ngulube expressed optimism that Beeline Telecoms Limited will create job opportunities for the youth because unemployment levels in the country have been so high.
“These providers are quite big Corporations and are spread out across the country and you will find that they have offices in almost every district or every Province. I think it will probably provide jobs for the youth because unemployment has been quite high, and also on the side of increasing competition it will reduce the cost of living now that with Covid-19 we see that we need the internet more than ever, we are also using different services like Mobile Money and the like,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) said the new entrant has brought relief and hope in the Communication industry because the current providers had developed laxity and Monopolistic type of business.
Organization Executive Secretary Juba Sakala however cautioned Beeline to stick to operational rules and not take consumers for granted, by operating in the country for a few years and later close like other Companies.
“We want to caution Beeline Telecoms Limited to stick to rules of operation and not take consumers for granted leaving in them cold by operating just for 2 years then close like other Companies.”
“We also hope ZICTA this time around have made the right choice in giving a license to Beeline Telecoms Limited unlike last time when they selected UZI. We hope and believe B-tel have capacity to bring in quality of service and Competition to the industry. As ZACA we are looking forward to the start of operations in 6 months as per conditions,” Mr. Sakala stated.
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) recently awarded Beeline Telecoms Limited a license to become the country’s fourth mobile phone service operator.

In 2018, the regulator awarded UZI Zambia, a unit of Unitel International Holdings B.V, registered in the Netherlands a license to commence operations but it was revoked in 2020 after failure to start operations.

Currently, Zambia has three mobile phone service operators namely Airtel Zambia, MTN Zambia and Zamtel.