License renewal: Here are the 13 conditions UCC set for MTN

Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has officially granted MTN Uganda a 12-year license.

The official signing of the License Renewal Agreement happened on July 10 at regulator UCC’s offices in Bugolobi, Kampala.

The renewal of the Second National Operator License for the provision of telecommunications services took effect on July 01.

It will expire in July 2032. The first license, issued in 1998, had expired almost two years ago but UCC kept issuing extensions to allow negotiations.

MTN Uganda’s renewed license, after a long journey, also comes with 13 conditions.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF MTN UGANDA LICENSE AS SUMMARISED BY UCC

The licensee shall ensure that its network extends to, and services are available in at least 90 per cent 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.