ZICTA CANCELS Z-MOBILE LICENCES OVER REGULATORY BREACHES
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has cancelled the network and service licences of B-Line Telecoms Limited, trading as Z-Mobile, citing persistent regulatory, operational and financial breaches.
ZICTA Board Chairperson Professor Mundia Muya says the company failed to meet key obligations, including network rollout targets, minimum quality-of-service standards and payment of statutory fees. The company was issued with notices of intention to cancel its licences on August 31, 2026.
ZICTA says B-Line’s representations submitted on September 10 were found unsatisfactory following a legal, regulatory and technical assessment. The Authority has therefore cancelled the licences under Section 18 of the Information and Communication Technologies Act.
The Authority will also withdraw resources assigned to Z-Mobile, including numbering resources and radio-frequency spectrum, while pursuing outstanding statutory and regulatory fees owed by the company.
Meanwhile, ZICTA Director-General Eng. Collins Mbulo says the Authority is engaging Z-Mobile to minimise inconvenience to customers. He says the process will take several days, with ZICTA facilitating refunds for unused airtime, bundles and other eligible consumer liabilities, and has urged customers to remain calm.