The Communication Authority of Zambia has begun using QOSS (Quality of Service Standards) monitoring equipment to ensure improvement in telecommunications, CAZ acting CEO Richard Mwanza announced last week at an equipment launch event in Pamodzi.

The regulator had previously warned telecom providers that it would revoke licenses if substandard quality of service continued, but the monitoring equipment has shown improvement of late, Mwanza noted.

In addition to improving telecommunications for consumers, the monitoring service will provide telecom companies with reports generated by the equipment, which they can use to improve performance, explained Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Mubika Mubika.

The CAZ has invested 2.9 billion Zambian kwacha (US$655,234) in the QOSS equipment, which is comprised of three monitoring stations in Kitwe, Livingstone and Lusaka, as well as two mobile systems to monitor other areas. Fixed stations will eventually be extended to cover all of Zambia's provinces, Mubika said.

In order to meet these expenses, Mwanza called on those that have not yet paid their license fees to do so immediately.

Quality of service standards are not intended to punish service providers, Mwanza emphasized, but rather to help maintain high standards of service provision to the consumer. The CAZ intends to have standards legislated in due course, he added.