Malawi revokes G-Mobile licence

  1. Posted on Tuesday 21 September 2010 - 12:56
    Mtheto Lungu
    Image of Mtheto Lungu
    Mtheto Lungu, AfricaNews reporter in Lilongwe, Malawi
    The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has revoked G-Mobile mobile telecommunications services licence. The company, which was expected to roll out by 20th September this year, insists it will go ahead with its plans to be Malawi's third mobile service telecommunications provider.
    Government revokes G-Mobile licence
    Public Relations Manager at MACRA, Zam'dziko Mankhambo said it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that G-Mobile would not meet its final deadline.

    "We licenced them on 20th March 2009 and expected them to roll out by 20th January 2010. They did not do this though we extended their deadline twice," he said.

    The body announced last week it was starting the revocation process.

    However, a G-Mobile Director of operations and logistics said the company was progressing well and they would soon roll out.

    "MACRA officials visited us to see the progress for themselves on sight. They saw that we have progressed. It comes as a shock to hear they have revoked our licence. We are rolling out and progressing without any interference. This matter is still in court," he said.

    "We have lawyers handling the issue and MACRA has lawyers. If anything, we should have heard from the lawyers about this revocation," added the Global Advanced Integrated Networks (GAIN) official.

    G-Mobile lawyer Ralph Kasambara said the regulator acted in contempt of court because the matter is being fought in court.

    “The matter is in court and we do not wish to litigate in the media,” he said.

    He said the company will fight in court.

    Shortly before the latest deadline, GAIN's Project Liaison Officer Victor Chidziwitsano conceded that time was too tight to allow the company to make significant progress.

    CommsUpdate reported GAIN was awarded an extension to its network rollout deadline last month, after the company admitted in late 2009 that it would not be able to meet the original deadline of 31 December 2009 as stipulated by its licence.

    At the same time, Beryl Capital and Telecoms engaged Telkom South Africa to operate and manage GAIN. Beryl signed a USD90 million partnership deal with GAIN in July 2009 for the supply, installation and commissioning of the cellco's wireless infrastructure.

    The operator failed to meet the regulator's latest network rollout deadline of 12 April 2010.

    Two other mobile companies Zain Malawi (Barti Airtel) and Tnm are the only ones running.

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