Subcategoría: Nociones de mezclas homogéneas.

Tanzania Telecommunication Company Limited (TTCL) was privatised in June 2000, and Zanzibar Telecommunication Limite d (Zantel) was granted a competitive fixed- line licence, allowing it to operate in a duopoly alongside TTCL on the island of Zanzibar, and from this year on the mainland. TTCL has reportedly fallen behind in the roll out of its transmission backbone. Of ten planned systems, only one has been built, the Namanga-Arusha. The rest, including the Dar es Salaam -Arusha, Dar es Salaam-Mtwara, Arusha-Mwanza, Mwanza-Geita and Mtwara-Lindi systems, have yet to be installed.

Currently TTCL and Zantel are the only oper ators allowed to transmit voice over their networks. This is expected to change in February 2005 when the exclusivity period granted to TTCL ends in February 2005 and data operators will be allowed to utilise VoIP.

Data services used to be the preserve of Datel, a former subsidiary of TTCL, however TCC has issued further public data communication services licences to: Wilken Afsat, Equant Tanzania, Simba Net Tanzania, Softech/Satcom and Fastcom Africa. These companies are allowed to install international infrastructure for data communication purposes but not yet for voice.

Afsat-Wilken operate a number of traditional C-band VSAT services for large clients and are also the local agent for the Hughes Direcway Ku-band VSAT Internet service via a hub in Germany. Approximately 250 Ku-band terminals have been installed, of which about 70% are in rural areas being used mainly by businesses and the

tourist/lodge sector.

A2.8 Uganda

Until 1996, the sole incumbent was state -owned PTT Uganda Post and

Telecommunications Corporation (UPTC) which had 50,000 lines in service. The entry of MTN Uganda in October 1998 as both a fixed and mobile provider

reinvigorated of the market leading to a reduction in cellular tariffs and a rapid rise in customer levels. The government then restructured UPTC, and its fixed line successor Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL) was privatised in 2000.

Since 1996 the PSTN has expanded to cover all but two districts of the country. Although MTN is a national operator, it elected to deliver services over a GSM platform and the distinction between fixed or mobile is therefore largely irrelevant. In order to enhance further expansion, particularly in rural areas, the government launched a rural telecommunications initiative in 2001 which aimed to take

broadband communications to all districts within five years. The project is financed by a combination of support from development partners and rural telecommunications funds.

The government privatised the national operator by selling a 51% stake to a st rategic equity partner for USD33.5 million. The Ucom consortium which won the bid comprises mobile operator Telecel (20%), Egyptian conglomerate Orascom Telecom (60%) and the German consultancy Deutsche Telepost Consulting (Detecon) (20%). When the consortium took control, the licence it received came with the condition to invest USD110 million and to increase the number of fixed lines to 100,000 within five years. This is unlikely to be fulfilled within the specified period.

MTN Uganda is a joint venture between MTN (South Africa) which holds a 50% shareholding, Telia Overseas which holds a minority (30%) shareholding and other smaller investors.

A2.9 Zambia

The Zambia telecommunication Company (ZAMTEL) remains the exclusive provider of fixed line services in the country. While the provision of this service has been theoretically opened, the license for entry to the market is expensive - approximately US $ 50 000 000 and it is also subject to Government tender through the Ministry of Communication and Transport. The Communication authority is now reviewing this entry requirement and it is expected to be reduced to attract more players, especially those who are willing to offer their services in the rural and underserved areas. The fixed network in Zambia has improved substantially over the last few years, but is still at a very low level of development.

One private power company, the Copperbelt Energy Company (CEC) has installed a 24-core fibre that covers about 520 kilometers, but there is still a need to link the Copperbelt province network to Lusaka. The National Power Company, Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) has approached other telecommunication companies for a joint venture to establish a telecommunications network using its infrastructure.

Two options for fibre-based international links are being discussed. One would be through Zimbabwe and the other through Namibia or Botswana. The national power company has fibre optic cable that runs from Katima Mulilo in Western Province to Livingstone in the Southern Province. The fibre optic line in Katima Mulilo could be linked to the fibre backbone in Namibia or Botswana and then to the SAT 3 cable.

There is also the fibre optic backbone in Zimbabwe that terminates at the Border town of Kariba in Zimbabwe and is part of the Power Grid that links Zambia and

the already existing fiber that links the Kafue Gorge Station to Lusaka. This would then link the country via Zimbabwe to the SAT 3 cable. The cost of the two options is estimated in the range of US$ 2.5 million to US$4.0 million.