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Econet terminates interconnection with Telecel
MISA-Zimbabwe
July 26, 2013

Econet wireless, Zimbabwe’s largest mobile phone operator has cut off Telecel Zimbabwe from its network because the latter does not have a valid operating licence.

In a press statement released by Econet Wireless on 26 July 2013, Econet noted that in terms of s.61 of the Postal and Telecommunications Act as well as clause 5.2.2 of its licence conditions, there is a positive duty for every licenced operator to interconnect with another licenced operator.

Econet further noted the fact that Telecel Zimbabwe was not a holder of such a valid licence issued in terms of s.37 of the relevant Act. In further validating this position, Econet noted that Telecel had been awarded a licence to operate in 1997, which award was later declared invalid by the High Court in a judgement handed down in December of the same year.

Econet also argued that, assuming the licence was valid and was not validly terminated, then such licence subsequently expired on 2 June 2013, thus leaving Econet with no “legal or moral obligation to interconnect with an unlicensed operator”.

MISA Zimbabwe is gravely concerned with negative impact that this will occasion on the citizens’ ability to freely communicate and urges the relevant network operators to expeditiously remedy the situation so as to ensure the fact that the citizens’ right to communicate is not unduly hampered.

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