UCC agrees to reduce licence fees for internet service providers

The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has agreed to reduce the licence fees for Internet Service Providers Association of Uganda (ISPAU) that had expired.

This follows a case filed by ISPAU against UCC at the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala recently.

In a letter dated June 25, 2020, ISPAU agreed to abandon its petition and also withdraw the pending application for judicial review in high court.

"The Commission has committed to furnish ISPAU with a copy of the revised fee structure," reads UCC letter in parts.

UCC says  the applicant may either  obtain  a National  Public  Infrastructure  Provider (NPIP) licence with  a maximum  of two  Regional Public Service  Provider  licenses  or  a National Public  Service Provider  licensce  with no infrastructure  licence  in any  region.

"An operator who obtains a national Public Infrastructure Provider licence or a National Public  Services  Provider  license  along with  authorisation  for the Regional  Public   Infrastructure   provider  licences shall pay  licence fees   of $60,000 or  0.89% of licencee's  gross  annual  revenue, whichever  is higher, the letter indicates," UCC notes.

The letter also states that   an operator  who  obtains  a National  Public  Service  Provider  licence  alone, without  any Regional  Public  Infrastructure  Provider  licence  shall pay  licence fees  of $20,000 or 0.89% of the licencee's  gross annual  revenue  licences.

UCC further committed itself to reducing fees of regional licenses.

In their application for judicial review before Justice Musa Ssekaana, ISPAU sought for prerogative remedies; an order quashing the new (amended) licensing fees   and a permanent injuction restraining UCC from revoking the current licenses of the members of ISPAU.

Court documents indicate that following the first hearing of the application for interim order, UCC held two meetings with ISPAU on June 24 and 25, respectively and concessions were made. ISPAU was represented by lawyers Kenneth Muhangi, Peter Nyero Lakwiya, Ivan Ojakol, Kenneth Kipaalu and Grace Nanyonjo, all of KTA Advocates.