Second cell licence on hold

GOVERNMENT has put the granting of a second cellular phone operating licence on hold.Jan Kruger of the Namibian Communications Commission (NCC) told The Namibian this week that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had temporarily suspended the process to focus on “more pressing issues”.

“The Government is yet to decide the winner of the second mobile operating licence. They are still holding onto the papers and we are waiting for the final step forward,” Kruger said.Bidding for the licence to rival Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) closed some months ago.The “pressing issues” Kruger referred to might relate to Government’s plans to sell off a 34 per cent stake in MTC to a regional or international player before the end of the year.Robert Offner, General Manager for Finance at MTC’s parent company, Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings (NPTH), said earlier that a further 15 per cent of shares in MTC would be transferred to black economic empowerment (BEE) partners.The State is expected to retain the remaining 51 per cent shareholding.Offner said several companies had expressed interest in the 34 per cent shareholding and that the selection process was already underway.MTC should have a new partner by the end of the year, he said.Various BEE partners are believed to have applied for the 15 per cent stake in MTC.They are still holding onto the papers and we are waiting for the final step forward,” Kruger said.Bidding for the licence to rival Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) closed some months ago.The “pressing issues” Kruger referred to might relate to Government’s plans to sell off a 34 per cent stake in MTC to a regional or international player before the end of the year.Robert Offner, General Manager for Finance at MTC’s parent company, Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings (NPTH), said earlier that a further 15 per cent of shares in MTC would be transferred to black economic empowerment (BEE) partners.The State is expected to retain the remaining 51 per cent shareholding.Offner said several companies had expressed interest in the 34 per cent shareholding and that the selection process was already underway.MTC should have a new partner by the end of the year, he said.Various BEE partners are believed to have applied for the 15 per cent stake in MTC.