Zambia cancels ZedMobile licences over rollout failures

Zambia’s communications regulator, ZICTA, has cancelled the network and service licences of Beeline Telecoms Limited, which operates as ZedMobile, effective September 15, 2026. The decision follows failures to meet critical operational requirements, including rollout targets that fell behind schedule, service quality below minimum standards, and unpaid statutory and regulatory fees. As part of the cancellation, the regulator is also withdrawing assigned radio-frequency spectrum and numbering resources.

ZedMobile, the country’s only locally owned private mobile operator, had been running commercial services since August 2024. ZICTA stated it is facilitating refunds for customers with unused airtime and bundles.

The cancellation highlights a broader debate regarding competition in Zambia’s telecommunications sector. While ZedMobile was intended to provide local ownership, some analysts suggest the country may have missed economic opportunities by not accommodating both a major regional player like Vodacom—which was previously restricted to broadband services—and a strong local competitor simultaneously to drive faster investment and lower prices.