The Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) has completed a replanning of frequencies that will allow service providers in the country to extend their services to remote rural areas.
CAZ undertook the replanning in order to increase the number of frequencies, which had run out in both urban and rural areas.
There is now more spectrum available in the lower and upper VHF (Very High Frequencies) band for reallocation of spectrum to the current licensees and future users in the country, said Ngabo Nankamba, CAS public relations officer.
The increased spectrum, however, only includes mobile service provision, radio communication and Internet service, not broadcasting services.
The reallocation of the spectrum will officially begin July 1 and is expected to be completed by December 31.
CAZ will cancel the operating licenses of service providers who fail to comply with the spectrum reallocation process, said Ngabo.
“All current users will be informed of their new assignments and are advised to have their radios reprogrammed to new assignments to avoid interference being caused by this changeover,” he added.
The reallocation of spectrum to cover rural areas is meant to encourage service providers in the country to extend their coverage to remote regions. CAZ has already set aside US$4 million for mobile and Internet service providers willing to do so, while the Zambian government has promised tax holidays as incentive.
