Kakubo said the affected ISPs included Zamnet Communications Systems Limited, Realtime Technology Alliance Limited, trading as Realtime Zambia, Coppernet Solutions Limited, Microlink Technologies, and Pronet Zambia Limited.

"The authority therefore wishes to inform the public that ZICTA has directed the above internet service providers to cease operating their ISP networks as well as providing the associated services by October 8, 2010," he said.

He said the decision to cease the operations of the ISPs was done in line with section 9 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act number 15 of 2009 which prohibited the operations of an electronic communications network or provision of an electronic communications services without a licence.

ZICTA had since appealed to clients of the affected ISPs to seek redress from their respective service providers.

When contacted for a comment, Coppernet Solutions head of operations, Jay Banda said the company was currently processing its licence with the authority.

Zamnet Communications Systems finance and administration manager, Ms Chiyabi when contacted said she would get back to the newspaper after consulting with the managing director, but by press time she had not yet returned the call.