5G regulation and law in Mozambique

Mozambique launched a Government five-year programme, which advocates the introduction of 5G technology in all provincial capitals by 2024. Presently only Vodacom Mozambique, a Vodafone company, has launched its 5G network in certain cities that include the the country’s capital Maputo, the city of Matola; the central area of the city of Nampula; downtown Nacala; the city of Beira; as well as in the city of Tete.

In partnership with Huawei, Mozambique Telecom, SA. (Tmcel) carried out  on Friday, March 25^th 2024 carried out a pre-launch of 5G technology. The actual technology is not yet live.  

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Mozambique is the regulatory body that manages radio frequency spectrum and grants licenses to communication services. The Government adopted policies to implement its digital transformation strategy by deploying projects focused on connectivity, e-governance and private sector inclusion. Digital Economy development is anchored by the National Strategy for Broadband as well as the urgency to develop  cybersecurity, cloud computing, and e-commerce regulations. In October 2023 the Council of Ministers  approved the  Regulatory Framework for Registry and Licensing of Electronic Services Providers and Digital Platform Operators.  This framework will enable companies to adopt registry and licensing practices in alignment with global guidelines. Additionally, the National Cybersecurity Strategy aims to implement 25 projects by 2025 and has established a multi-sectoral council with a mandate to coordinate a governance framework. ICT is consistently integrated into national development plans, including concrete benchmarks and targets.

The Mozambican mobile market is composed of three operators: (1) Tmcel; (2) Vodacom; and (3) Movitel. Tmcel was the first mobile operator in Mozambique, founded in 1997, while Vodacom started operating in 2003 and Movitel in 2012.

Private telecommunications networks may be set up and operated freely, as long as they do not involve numbering and spectrum resources, or operation for commercial purposes. The capacity of the private telecommunications network may not be used for resale. Exceptionally, upon authorisation by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Mozambique aprivate network owner may resell existing available capacity of its facilities, assign, transfer or, by any other means, dispose of the rights to use those facilities to a telecommunications operator who can then provide public telecommunications services. This may only happen if the transfer does not jeopardizeclient privacy and does not endanger national security. As tocapacity access, the principles of equality, transparency and non-discrimination must be respected, through the use of rates that reflect  actual costs.

Best technical offer and best pricing.

There are several types of licenses in Mozambique. The holder of the license must be a Mozambican incorporated company with the technical and financial capacity to perform the activity for which the license is issued.

Licenses are:

Unified License (Establishes Networks and provides all Services in all Segments)

1. Gateway
2. Submarine rope systems
3. Mobile Cellular Telephony
4. Fixed Telephony
5. Data Transmission and Internet
6. TV Signal Distribution
7. Other Networks

Class A License (Telecommunications Networks)

1. Submarine cable network;
2. Satellite Transport Networks;
3. Microwave Transport Networks;
4. Fiber Optic Transport Networks;
5. Fixed Access Networks via radio;
6. Multipoint Multichannel Distribution Networks (MMDS);
7. TV Signal Distribution Networks;
8. Multipoint Video Distribution Networks (MVDS);
9. Others that may be indicated by the Regulatory Authority.

Class B License (Telecommunications Services)

1. Gateway Service;
2. IP telephony service (VoIP);
3. Traffic control service;
4. Mobile/Fixed Telephony Service;
5. Virtual Telephony Service (Mobile and Fixed);
6. Internet Access Services (ISPs);
7. Leased circuit service;
8. IP telephony service (VoIP);
9. Traffic control service;
10. SMRP - Mobile Service with Shared Resources;
11. SMGS - Global Mobile Satellite Service;
12. SMS - Mobile Satellite Service;
13. SCPS - Personal Communications Services by Satellite;
14. Private Telecommunications Service;
15. Interconnection Service - Clearing House;
16. Public Telephone Posts Services;
17. Internet access service – Icafé;
18. Value-Added Telecommunications Service;
19. TV Signal Distribution Service (cable, terrestrial, satellite);
20. Virtual Telephony Service (Mobile and Fixed);
21. Others that may be indicated by the Regulatory Authority.

Class C License (Supply, Installation and Maintenance, Import, Distribution and Sale of Telecommunications Equipment)

1. Installation and Maintenance of Telecommunications equipment and infrastructure;
2. Import of Telecommunications equipment and infrastructure;
3. Distribution and Sale of Telecommunications equipment and infrastructure;
4. Others that may be indicated by the Regulatory Authority.

Telecommunications Licenses are subject to the following fees:

Telecommunications Networks and Services Licensing Fee – Fee paid in the attribution of the license, in a single installment, charged individually for each license; For unified License fee is MZN 70m (USD1.9m).

Annual Telecommunications Fee – The Fee corresponds to 2% of gross revenue, calculated after receipt of an audited annual financial report, until the last day of May, will be invoiced in 10 days and payment due by the last day of June;

Telecommunications Numbering Acquisition Fee – Fee paid in the attribution of the Numbering license, in a single installment;

Annual Telecommunications Numbering Fee– Fee paid from January to March, in a single instalment.

No.

No.

There are no specific rules for 5G.

No. Only one network operator has 5G.

Public telecommunications services operators and providers have the right of access the telecommunications infrastructures and other facilities of the network. However, this access must be provided under conditions of equality, transparency and non-discrimination, using rates that reflect actual costs. Access to network infrastructure and to international transmission capacity must be made available to all public telecommunications network operators and service providers under transparent and non-discriminatory conditions, without prejudice to any mechanisms for economic regulation of the market. Public telecommunications network operators for service providers must interconnect with each other. The technical and commercial characteristics of the interconnection must be defined with negotiated agreements, at any point in the network that is technically viable. Operators with a significant market position are under an obligation to (i) provide interconnection to other public telecommunications network operators and service providers and (ii) submit an interconnection reference proposal to the INCM (national telecommunications institute) for approval and publication. 

No significant comments. Mozambique has welcomed the use of Chinese technology and the example if the partnership of state-owned Mozambique Telecom, SA. with Huawei for the launch of 5G technology.

There are no specific projects that are being made public.