This Practice Note outlines the licensing criteria that a number of countries have adopted for the issuance of unified and multi-service authorizations.
Tanzania – Multi-Service Licence
Applications for a multi-service licence in Tanzania are evaluated on the merits. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority has indicated that the following factors are weighted in the evaluation of a licence application:
(a) Technical plan and roll-out speed (25%);
(b) Marketing plan (15%);
(c) Financial plan (15%);
(d) Investment plan (20%);
(e) Company profile (7%);
(f) Local ownership (10%);
(g) Track records and experience (18%); and
(i) Programming schedule (25%).
Uganda – Public Service Provider (PSP) Licence
Applicants for a Category 1, Public Voice and Data PSP Licence and Applicants for a Category 2, Capacity Resale PSP Licence must submit the following information with their application for evaluation:
(a) Company profile
(b) Business plan, including information about the applicant’s business concept; economic, market, and financial analysis; evidence of capital; and operations arrangements; and
(c) Technical application.
Any applicant wishing to provide pre-paid services (e.g., pre-paid phone cards) is required to describe measures put in place to protect customers of these prepaid services as part of its application.
Applicants for a Class 1, Public Pay Phone Communications General Authorisation must submit a notification, along with the following information:
(a) A copy of the applicant’s Trading Licence;
(b) Indication of area/location of operations; and
(c) A description of services being provided.
Singapore – Facilities-Based Operator (FBO) Licence
Applications for Facilities Based Operator (FBO) Licences are evaluated on their merits. The IDA, the regulator in Singapore, has stated that it will take into account the following factors in its evaluation of the merits of an applicant’s proposal:
(a) Vision of the applicant
(b) Organisational structure and financial capability and strength of the applicant;
(c) Competition strategies of the applicant for the provision of services; technical soundness of the applicant’s plans and technical capability to implement the plans;
(d) Commitments of the applicant in fulfilling its vision and plans;
(e) Technical plan and capability of the applicant; and
(f) Any other information provided by the applicant.[1]
The IDA has also stated that it will consider the benefits that the applicant will bring to the industry, to consumers, and to the Singapore economy as a whole. These benefits are analyzed in terms of factors such as the investment in Singapore; enhancement of the telecommunications infrastructure, capacity, capability, and connectivity; level of technological and service innovation and responsiveness; the range and choice of service offerings; competitive pricing; the level of the quality of service and the level of customer service support; and resource limitations and physical constraints.
Singapore – Services-Based Operator (SBO) Licences[2]
An SBO (Individual) Licence will be granted if the IDA is satisfied that the applicant will be able to deliver its proposed service and meet its commitments on quality of service standards. Licensees must be a company incorporated in Singapore or a foreign company registered under the Singapore Companies Act. Licensees are not subject to foreign equity limits.
The requirements for obtaining an SBO (Class) Licence are less onerous than the requirements for obtaining an SBO (Individual) Licence. An SBO (Class) Licence will be granted if all required information as been provided. SBO (Class) Licensees may be a company incorporated in Singapore, a foreign company registered under the Singapore Companies Act, or a Limited Liability Partnership. SBO (Class) Licensees are not subject to any foreign equity limits.