Zambian gov’t backs off threat to shut down ISPs

Zambia’s communications authority reversed its decision to shut down five main internet service providers on Wednesday, saying they would be allowed another chance to renew their licences.

The Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority has “withdrawn its earlier statement indicating that five internet service providers should cease operations effective October 8,” spokesman Lotty Kakubo said in a statement.

24 hours earlier, the firms had been ordered to shut down by the end of the week, after regulators said the five providers had not renewed their operating licences.

But the order raised fears that Zambia could be cut off from the internet, and Kakubo said the regulators would now allow the firms five days to renew their licences.

The affected companies are Realtime Zambia, Coppernet Solutions Limited, Microlink Technologies Limited, Pronet Zambia Limited and Zamnet Communications Systems Limited.

The companies are Zambia’s main internet providers. Their closure would leave only three firms providing internet access to the entire country – AFP