Zambia slaps criminal charges on Airtel, two others for poor quality
Zambia telecom regulator Zambia Information and
Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has filed criminal cases
against all three operators in the country – Airtel, MTN and state-run
Zamtel – for providing poor quality of mobile phone services.
Formally announcing this, ZICTA spokesperson Ngabo Nankond said in a statement that, “ZICTA has instituted criminal proceedings against all three mobile phone service providers namely Airtel Networks Zambia, MTN Zambia and Zambia Telecommunication Company Ltd (Zamtel), for failure to meet minimum standards of quality of service.”
Airtel has not yet released any immediate comments about this matter. ZICTA, rationalising its stand, has said that under rules that currently in power, it has an option to invoke either administrative or criminal sanctions arising from the failure to adhere to the set parameters relating to quality of service.
“The deteriorating levels of Quality of Service has made communication difficult and resulted in increased public outcry and negative impact on ease of doing business in Zambia,” Nankond said.
The Board of the Authority, on June 27, 2013 authorised Management’s decision to move for prosecuting all the three mobile service providers for offering poor quality of service to the public, she said.
“The Authority, on July 4, 2013, instituted criminal proceedings against the mobile service providers on two counts of failure to meet minimum standards of quality of service as specified and published by the Authority... and on failure to comply with a provision of the Quality of Service Guidelines issued by the Authority,” Nankond said.
Formally announcing this, ZICTA spokesperson Ngabo Nankond said in a statement that, “ZICTA has instituted criminal proceedings against all three mobile phone service providers namely Airtel Networks Zambia, MTN Zambia and Zambia Telecommunication Company Ltd (Zamtel), for failure to meet minimum standards of quality of service.”
Airtel has not yet released any immediate comments about this matter. ZICTA, rationalising its stand, has said that under rules that currently in power, it has an option to invoke either administrative or criminal sanctions arising from the failure to adhere to the set parameters relating to quality of service.
Zambia takes Airtel and two others to court for poor quality of service. (Image credit:Indiatoday)
“The deteriorating levels of Quality of Service has made communication difficult and resulted in increased public outcry and negative impact on ease of doing business in Zambia,” Nankond said.
The Board of the Authority, on June 27, 2013 authorised Management’s decision to move for prosecuting all the three mobile service providers for offering poor quality of service to the public, she said.
“The Authority, on July 4, 2013, instituted criminal proceedings against the mobile service providers on two counts of failure to meet minimum standards of quality of service as specified and published by the Authority... and on failure to comply with a provision of the Quality of Service Guidelines issued by the Authority,” Nankond said.
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