Mobile phone providers service irks Mukanga

MOBILE service providers must engage government in addressing their challenges to improve service delivery, Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga has said.
The minister told journalists in Livingstone that the service being provided by the three mobile service providers is not good and needs urgent attention.
He said the poor service is affecting the country’s development because good communication is vital to development.
“I also experience a lot of challenges with the service provided. That is why I am asking them to come so that we can address their challenges,” he said.

Mr Mukanga reiterated that Government plans to introduce a fourth mobile service provider but is still looking at addressing the challenges with the current players in the business.
“Government is concerned with the high cost of making phone calls and the poor service delivery but we will only engage another mobile service provider after those issues are addressed,” he said.
Government in August last year put off plans to award a fourth mobile provider a licence despite having received bids from several telecommunication operators.
Mr Mukanga said what was needed was for the current players Airtel Zambia, MTN Zambia and Zamtel, to operate efficiently in providing their service to consumers.
“It is not the number of players that reduces tariffs; it is the cost of doing business. If you reduce the cost of doing business, then the tariffs will go down. The fourth player might come in and not reduce anything,” he said.

Daily Mail