ESCCOM issues four new Electronic Communications General Licences

Mbabane: Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) has issued four new Electronic Communications General licences.

The licenses were handed over by the ECCOM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mvilawemphi Dlamini at the company’s headquarters in Mbabane on Monday.

The new licensees as per their licenses will be working on the provision of Internet services, Value added services and any other service that the commission may authorize from time to time.

Making his remarks when handing over the licenses Dlamini highlighted the Licensing powers of the Commission, contained in section 7(g) of ESCCOM Act. The section empowers the Commission to grant any authorization for the carrying out of any operation or activity relating to any matter within the remit of the Commission.

Further, S.7 (1) of the Electronic Communications Act provides that a person shall not operate a public electronic communication network or provide a public electronic communications service in the Kingdom of Eswatini or between a place in Eswatini and any other place, except in accordance with a license issued by the Commission.

Dlamini said in accordance with the foregoing provisions, “the Commission hereby issues four (4) electronic communications services general licenses to the following new licensees:

Wanderport Networks
Chakaza Holdings
AFRIMETRO Investment (Pty) Ltd
Prosperity Skyless solutions

Handing over the licenses to company representatives, the CEO, Mvilawemphi Dlamini challenged licensees to be innovative and create services tailor-made for the different sectors of society including women, children as well as people living with disabilities.

According to the CEO, this kind of license category is relatively competitive, in Eswatini there are already have eleven (11) operational and duly licensed Internet Service providers. The licensing of these four will take the number to a total of fifteen (15) ISPs.

Prior to granting the licence, the Commission undertook a public consultation exercise calling for written comments from interested stakeholders and the general public on its intention to grant the said licenses.