MTN Uganda has today announced completion of negotiations with the Uganda communications commission (UCC), to renew its operator license which gradually expired in October 2018.
After close to 2 years in the cold, MTN Uganda’s license will be renewed in the coming weeks, with an initial term start on 1st July 2020. The telco first acquired a telecommunications operator license on 15 April 1998 which run for 20 years up to 2018.
Having completed all conditions set by UCC including a $100 million payment. MTN’s new license will run for a period of 12 years marking its 2nd fully licensed operations term in Uganda.
Under its second license regime, MTN will follow a new framework that was announced by UCC earlier this year. Under the framework, the telco will abide by 5 principles headlined with the availability of 20% of its shares listed on the Uganda Securities Exchange (USE) market.
Principals on UCC’s Telecom Operations Framework
- Local Listing of shares within 2 years after acquiring a license
- Structured renewal of licenses
- Number portability
- Spectrum Management
- National Coverage
Furthermore, the Framework classifies existing and new operators under categories namely: National Telecom Operator (NTO), National Public Service Provider (NPSP), Regional Public Service Provider (RPSP), National Public Infrastructure Provider (NPIP) License, and Public Infrastructure Provider (RPIP) License.
Hence, it’s not just MTN Uganda’s License that will abide by the UCC Operator’s Framework, But all telecoms actively operating in Uganda such as, Airtel, Africell, Lyca mobile, Smile, UTL, among others.