UCC grants MTN 12-year licence extension

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MTN Uganda has been granted a 12-year operation licence extension by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

According to a statement issued by UCC, the MTN Uganda CEO Wim Vanhellpute pledged "to deliver a new digital life to everyone, everywhere."

MTN Uganda was first granted a second national operator licence for the provision of telecommunications services on October 20, 1998 for a period of 20 years.

The  licence, having expired in October 2018, was followed by protracted negotiations involving the Government, UCC and MTN Uganda, culminating in this breakthrough.

Under section 5, 22 and 39 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, the Commission is mandated to monitor, licence, inspect, supervise, control and regulate communications services.

In addition, the Commission is empowered, under section 38 and 43 of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, to grant an extension to the Second National Operator licence upon terms and conditions that reflect the prevailing circumstances of the communications sector in Uganda.

Having conducted a performance assessment of MTN Uganda operations over the last 20 years, the commission came to the conclusion that MTN Uganda had complied with its financial and legal obligations, as well as most of the technical obligations.

According to the statement, the Ag. Executive Director Irene Kaggwa Sewankambo congratulated MTN and the Government on this milestone and expressed readiness to continue to work with the telecom operator to modernise the communications sector and to provide quality and affordable services to the people of Uganda.

On his part, Vanhellpute expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni, the Government and the Commission for the engaging discussions that led to the licence extension.
Vanhelleputte and Sewankambo, the UCC Executive Director pose for a photo after the signing ceremony

"We've fulfilled our obligations," he triumphantly declared.

Although Vanhellpute observed that MTN Uganda has a presence in all of Uganda's 135 districts currently, he was quick to acknowledge that there is much more to do on the technical side to make the slogan "Everywhere you go" a  reality.

Summary of terms and conditions

The licensee shall ensure that its network extends to, and services are available in at least 90% of the geographical boundary of Uganda within five (5) years from the effective date of the license.

The licensee shall not deny access for licensed services to any subscriber except for non-payment of fees or any other just cause.

The Licensee shall ensure that its services meet the Licensor's Quality of Service standards and other standards as the Licensor shall determine from time to time.

The Licensee shall comply with all the Laws, Regulations, Guidelines and Standards Issued by the Government of Uganda on health, safety and environment protection.

The Licensee shall provide services adaptable to persons with disabilities across its network.
 
The Licensee shall ensure that its equipment, facilities, or systems do not damage, interfere or in any way harm the installations, facilities or operations of other Licensees.

The Licensee shall ensure and maintain the confidentiality of all communications that it may obtain in the course of providing a service to a customer or interconnecting to a public network or in the execution of its business.

The Licensee shall interconnect its system(s) with national, public or private telecommunication systems or other licensed operators to deliver locally originated traffic through interconnection agreements, which shall be approved by the Licensor.

The Licensee shall provide national roaming services to requesting telecommunications service providers on terms and services as shall be agreed upon by the parties.

The Licensee shall share its infrastructure with other requesting licensees in designated areas as provided by the Act, Regulations, Government policies, guidelines and directives.

The Licensee shall comply with the sector policy, regulations and guidelines requiring the listing of a portion of its shares on the Uganda Securities Exchange.

The Licensee shall comply with the Act, the Regulations made under the Act, standards, directives, guidelines issued by the Licensor in the public interest, including but not limited to, national development, consumer protection, environment protection, disaster relief services, and security of persons and infrastructure.

Under the terms of the license, the Licensee is authorised, non-exclusively, to establish, install, operate, maintain lease, and sale telecommunications systems and to provide telecommunication services and make available network infrastructure systems to other licensed operators and authorised persons in Uganda.