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Herald Reporter
THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) says it has issued several internet service provider’s (ISP) licences to prospective and existing operators, noting none of them carries sole or exclusivity rights to partner with global satellite internet giant, Starlink.
Starlink, a satellite internet constellation operated by Starlink Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based aerospace company, SpaceX, which is controlled by billionaire Mr Elon Musk, has applied to Potraz to offer its services in Zimbabwe.
Potraz is reportedly still processing the American company’s licence for an ISP licence. IMC Communications was among many companies that recently applied for ISP licences, said Potraz.
While it is correct that the regulator has approved IMC’s application for an ISP licence, Potraz is yet to grant the licence document given that there are still some outstanding processes to be completed.
And when issued, the licence will not carry any sole or exclusivity rights to partner with Starlink.
Potraz director-general Dr Gift Machengete said the regulator had in the recent past received, processed and granted several licences to prospective operators.
This is in addition to multiple other licences Potraz has already granted and the licensees are operating in Zimbabwe like DFA Zimbabwe, ZOL, Utande, Powertel, Liquid Intelligent and TelOne, to name but a few.
None of the applicants, issued or already operating, holds a licence with sole or exclusivity rights for any internet services because that would violate the country’s competition laws.
“An ISP licence is an internet service provider’s licence. Several others already have the licences,” Dr Machengete said.
Potraz issues licences for various categories of telecommunication services in Zimbabwe and the ISP licence was only one of many.
“In our licence categories, we have no licences for exclusivity. Our licences are not technology-specific, in this case, the service that we are licensing is internet service provision.
“This means that anyone who has our licence, if it is an ISP, that person can go to Starlink, that person can go to Liquid, that person can use any technology,” he said.
In the case of IMC Communications, The Herald understands that no licence has been granted yet, although the application has been approved.
IMC have to pay the requisite fees while Potraz will need to process the licence documentation and have them signed by all the relevant authorities.
The entry of Musk’s Starlink into Zimbabwe’s information technology space is expected to revolutionise the industry and significantly cut the cost of digital services, which have remained high in Zimbabwe.
Access to affordable internet service has become indispensable globally, especially in this digital era when business is now done at the click of a computer button.
The Government says access to and use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) should become pervasive in all facets of life leading to digitalisation of the economy as envisioned by the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
One of the strategic pillars that anchor the Second Republic’s Vision 2030 is innovation, science and technology.
It is against this background that cognisant of the importance of ICTs in the operations of businesses, Government and activities of citizens, the Government is prioritising the digital economy. Starlink’s high-speed, low-latency services are useful in a country and continent where many rural localities have poor or non-existent fixed and/or mobile network connectivity. Starlink, which provides coverage to more than 80 countries, is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator wholly owned by global conglomerate, Space X, owned by the world’s richest man Mr Musk.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter