EXCLUSIVE: We want capacity yesterday, African operators tell regulators
News

EXCLUSIVE: We want capacity yesterday, African operators tell regulators

During a lively panel session at Capacity Africa 2014 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, it became clear that operators in the region are demanding faster and more compliant regulation from the government.

An audience member from Liquid Telecom spoke out to Tanzania’s deputy minister of communication, science and technology, Mr January Makamba, of the delays operators in the country face due to regulatory setbacks.

“Everything that you are doing, please do it as fast as possible,” the audience member said. “We want it yesterday.”

In response, Makamba said that he and the government were aware of the need for what he called a second generation of regulation.

“We have a new generation of service providers who understand where the world is going and what needs to be done,” Makamba said. “The time has come for the second generation of regulation, and we are in that transition now.”

Also during this panel, which comprised speakers from SEACOM, Tanzania Telecommunications Company (TTCL), and Internet Solutions, Peter Ngota, chief sales and marketing officer at TTCL, announced the company’s IP PoP in Tanzania.

“As part of our initiative to provide better services to our customers, we have opened up an IP PoP in Tanzania,” Ngota said.

He also confirmed the “very good” relationship the Tanzanian incumbent shares with the regulator in the country, and said that TTCL is also in discussions with Malawi and Uganda for further connectivity.

Capacity Africa 2014 continues until October 16.


Gift this article