The newly appointed Chairperson of the National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM), the regulatory body for telecommunications, Helena Fernandes, has pledged to fight in order to ensure that all Mozambicans, especially those living in rural areas, have access to telecommunications services at affordable prices.
According to Fernandes, who was being sworn into office as Chairperson of the INCM by Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane, on Thursday, in Maputo, “I guarantee accessibility for those who can’t afford it, and even for those who are in a geographical location that isn’t economically viable for the operators. The service must be universal and accessible to all.”
Fernandes takes on the responsibility of running INCM after the previous chairperson, Tuha Mote, was involved in the controversial increase of tariffs for internet, voice and SMS services, which were later suspended.
At the time, Tuha Mote, who was dismissed last week, claimed that the increase of tariffs was necessary to ensure the sustainability of the telecommunications market, and to avoid any collapse. But none of the operators had suggested that they were on the verge of collapse or that the market was in any danger
The new tariffs were put on hold following an instruction from the government to review the study that was used to calculate the increased prices of services, after a wave of protest across the country forced the INCM to rethink.
No company had requested that the regulator push up tariffs, and none had claimed that the tariffs practiced were anti-competitive. It seemed that it was only the INCM that imagined there was a threat to the sustainability of the market.
Fernandes must now ensure accessible prices for services, avoiding the major scandal that has tainted the image of the INCM.
“Telecommunications are beneficial for the economy and for the development of society, and so we must ensure that the means of communication are not used to defraud society”, she said.
The Prime Minister – who also sworn into office Nelson Nunes as the new Chairperson of the National Road Transport Institute (INATRO) – challenged the newly appointed officials to promote reforms and actions that contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality of services provided to the public.
“We are certain that the expansion of the telecommunications network will ensure that all Mozambicans can benefit from the potential of the new information and communication technologies, thus enabling greater digital inclusion in our country. On the other hand, INATRO must ensure the regulation, inspection and supervision of activities in its sector”, Maleiane said.
AIM
