MTN Uganda has today announced that it has concluded the protracted negotiations with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for the renewal of its Second National Operator license which expired in October 2018.
The telecommunications giant says that it has fulfilled all conditions precedent to the license, including the payment of a total sum of US$100 million as license renewal fee for a period of 12 years commencing 1 July 2020.
“MTN Uganda and the UCC will conclude the signature of the License Agreement within the coming days” the company announced on its social media platforms.
MTN Uganda is now pleased to announce the conclusion of negotiations for the renewal of its Second National Operator license which expired in October 2018. #MTNLicense pic.twitter.com/Z8O6Jkk7T1
— MTN Uganda (@mtnug) June 13, 2020
The company provides services under a second National Operator license for the operation of a telecommunications system issued on 15 April 1998 for a period of twenty years. MTN Uganda’s license expired on 21 October 2018 but was variously extended to accommodate the conclusion of renewal negotiations which have been ongoing for close to 2 years.
ALSO READ: UCC’s new telecom licensing framework is based on these 5 key principals
In January this year, UCC gave a deadline to all Operators up to January 30 to formally apply for their desired license including the type of license categories they want to apply for under the new licensing regime. The new licensing framework is to come into force on 30 June 2020.
The new framework is based on 5 key principals.
- Local Listing of shares (at least 20% on USE within two years of acquiring a licence)
- Structured renewal of licenses
- Number portability
- Spectrum Management
- National Coverage
The new licensing framework structure that affects the likes of MTN Uganda, Airtel, Africell and other telecom standardizes and reclassifies the existing and new telecoms into 5 licensing categories viz: National Telecom Operator (NTO), National Public Service Provider (NPSP), Regional Public Service Provider (RPSP), National Public Infrastructure Provider (NPIP) License and finally the Regional Public Infrastructure Provider (RPIP) License
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