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MTN remains Zambia's cheapest network

By Michael Malakata, ITWeb’s Zambian correspondent.
Zambia, 22 Sept 2011

MTN Zambia, a subsidiary of SA's MTN, has been named by the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) as the cheapest and most efficient mobile phone network in Zambia, beating the Zambia Telecommunication Company (Zamtel) and Airtel Zambia.

ZICTA, the country's telecoms sector regulator, said MTN remains the cheapest network in Zambia, followed by Zamtel, with Airtel in third position.

While MTN and Airtel are 100% independent companies, Zamtel is run by the Zambian government and LAPGreen Networks of Libya, which controversially acquired a 75% stake in the company.

ZICTA said MTN Zambia's intra-network for prepaid is pegged at ZMK17 (R0.03) per second during peak periods, and K9 (R0.01) per second during off-peak hours.

MTN also remains the cheapest operator on cross-network charges at R0.03 per second during peak hours and R0.02 during off-peak hours.

Airtel charges its prepaid customers K21 (R0.03) per second during peak periods and K13 (R0.02) during off-peak periods. On cross networks, Airtel's post-paid customers are charged K35 (R0.06) per second for both peak and off-peak periods.

ZICTA public relations manager Ngabo Nankonde said: “ZICTA has also been receiving complaints from subscribers bordering on overcharging of Internet service bundles, as well as poor Internet quality of modems.”

Nankonde said Airtel has received the most complaints for the period January 2011 to 31 August 2011.

Out of a total 149 complaints reported to ZICTA, Airtel had 68 complaints, Zamtel 40, and MTN 25. Despite ZICTA banning the sending of mobile spam to subscribers, Airtel customers complain that they continue to receive unsolicited messages.

MTN's Internet connection has also remained the cheapest, fastest and most reliable. MTN said it will invest an additional $40 million in network upgrades and expansion this year alone, to raise market share to 37%.

In response to ZICTA's findings, MTN has, over the last week, been running adverts boasting about its cheaper network, and promising to make communication in Zambia even more affordable by bringing down tariffs.

The Zambian government, through the Ministry of Communications and Transport, has suspended the issuance of a new licence to a fourth mobile operator until 2015, in order to allow the three operators to compete favourably, and bring down the high cost of communications in the country.

Related story:
Poor connectivity plagues Zambia

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