INTRODUCTION TO THE COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

INTRODUCTION

The Posts and Telecommunications Corporation limited was until 31st July 1994 mandated to manage the Radio Spectrum on behalf of the government of the Republic of Zambia.

However, with the advent of plural politics, the Government unshackled the industries and allowed private participants in the running of the economy. Hence the Government through an Act of Parliament created the Communications Authority to oversee the liberalization of the Telecommunications Industry in the Country. The Authority came into being in July 1994. This was necessitated by the need to remove the monopolistic tendencies inherent with one party system that was prevailing at the time.

FORMATION OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

The Communications Authority is a statutory body established by Act of Parliament, Telecommunications Act No. 23 of 1994.

OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY

The Act confers upon the Communications Authority the mandate to supervise and regulate the provisions of the telecommunications services and products, to promote competition and to ensure that the benefits of this sector accrue to the Citizens of Zambia and its economy.

FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY

The Authority supervises and promotes the provision of Telecommunications Services throughout Zambia and to:

1. Take reasonable steps to extend the provision, throughout all urban and Rural areas of Zambia of such Telecommunications services s to satisfy all reasonable demands for them including, in particular emergency services, public call boxes, directory information services and machine services.
2. Promote the interests of consumers, purchasers and other users of Telecommunications services (including in particular those who are disabled or of pensionable age) in respect to the prices charged for, the quality and variety of such services.
3. Promote and maintain competition among persons engaged therein.
4. Exercise general control and supervision of Radiocommunications and Radiocommunications services.
5. Promote research into telecommunications and the development and use of new techniques in telecommunications.
6. Encourage major investors in and users of telecommunications and the development and use of new techniques in telecommunications and Radiocommunication services.
7. Promote the provision of international transit services that is services conveying sound, visual images or signals (that have been conveyed to, places outside Zambia) by persons providing Telecommunications Services to Zambia.
8. Enable persons providing Telecommunications services in Zambia to compete effectively in the provision of such services outside Zambia; and,
9. Enable persons producing Telecommunications apparatus in Zambia to compete both inside and outside Zambia.

STRUCTURE
The Authority is currently divided into five Departments as follows:

• Engineering & Information Technology
• Radio Frequency Management
• Licencing & Consumer Affairs
• Legal
• Finance & Administration

For more information please contact:

The Licencing & Consumer Affairs Department
Plot No. 3141, Buyantanshi Road,
P o Box 36871,
Heavy Industrial Area
Lusaka

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