ZICTA Cancels Z-Mobile Licences Over Regulatory and Financial Breaches
ZICTA said the licences were issued as part of efforts to increase competition in Zambia’s telecommunications market, reduce communication costs and expand digital inclusion.
Zambia’s Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has cancelled the network and service licences of B-Line Telecoms Limited, trading as Z-Mobile, citing continued failure to meet key regulatory, operational and financial obligations.
The decision was announced during a ZICTA press briefing on September 16, 2026, following a determination by the authority’s board concerning the status of the operator. B-Line Telecoms was awarded network licence ZICTA-ICT-ECM-0156 and service licence ZICTA-ICT-ECS-0156 in February 2021, making it Zambia’s fourth network operator at the time.
ZICTA said the licences were issued as part of efforts to increase competition in Zambia’s telecommunications market, reduce communication costs and expand digital inclusion. After several deadline extensions linked to post-COVID-19 global supply chain disruptions, Z-Mobile launched its commercial operations in 2024.
According to ZICTA, however, the operator subsequently failed to meet several regulatory milestones. The authority cited inadequate network rollout, failure to meet minimum quality-of-service requirements and outstanding statutory fees as among the issues leading to the licence cancellation.
ZICTA said these failures meant the company was no longer meeting the technical and financial capability requirements necessary to fulfil its obligations under the licences and the Information and Communication Technologies Act, Chapter 169 of the Laws of Zambia.
The regulator issued B-Line Telecoms with notices of intention to cancel its network and service licences on August 31, 2026, giving the company an opportunity to explain why the licences should not be withdrawn. ZICTA said it subsequently reviewed representations submitted by the company on September 10 alongside a technical assessment of its current operations.
Following the assessment, the authority determined that the representations were not satisfactory and resolved to cancel both licences under Section 18(1)(b) and (g) of the ICT Act. The cancellation took effect on September 15, 2026, with ZICTA issuing the required formal notices.
As part of the enforcement process, B-Line Telecoms will no longer be entitled to exercise the operating rights provided under the cancelled licences. ZICTA also said the cancellation does not remove the company’s outstanding financial obligations to the regulator and that it will pursue legal and administrative measures to recover unpaid regulatory fees.
The regulator will also withdraw resources previously assigned to B-Line Telecoms, including numbering resources and radio frequency spectrum.
Consumer protection will form part of the next phase of the process. ZICTA said it will facilitate refunds for unused airtime, bundles and other eligible financial liabilities, while working with other regulators, including the Bank of Zambia, to address consumer-related obligations.
ZICTA Director-General Ndiakwende Zidulo said the authority would continue engaging with B-Line Telecoms to minimise disruption to consumers. He urged customers and other stakeholders in the telecommunications sector to remain calm as the transition is managed over the coming days.
The authority said consumer complaint channels will remain available, with further details on the arrangements to be communicated to the public. ZICTA reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a competitive, sustainable and well-regulated ICT sector in Zambia.
