Maputo, Oct. 28, 2025 (Lusa) - The Mozambican government is going to make fifth-generation (5G) mobile network coverage compulsory in all provincial capitals, but is backtracking on the planned auction to allocate frequencies to operators, which will be done administratively.
"This decision is based on the change in the economic order of the national telecommunications market, which has compromised the effectiveness of the auction-based spectrum consignment model for the implementation of 5G," the cabinet spokesman, Inocêncio Impissa, said at the end of the weekly meeting.
He added that at this meeting, held today in Maputo, the resolution repealing resolution 16/2024, of 19 April, which authorised the auction of rights to use radio frequency spectrum for the provision of telecommunications services for public use in the 700 MHz, 2.6 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz bands, was approved.
"Accordingly, the new resolution adopts an administrative consignment model as a strategic measure to accelerate the availability of 5G technology in Mozambique, guarantee digital inclusion and efficient use of the spectrum with the introduction of coverage obligations for operators, ensuring 5G coverage in all provincial capitals and 4G throughout the country," Impissa explained.
The government will also "guarantee strict supervision of the terms of the consignments", providing for "penalties and the possibility of revocation in cases of non-compliance", he added.
The cabinet also passed the decree approving the telecommunications traffic control regulation and repealing the previous decree of 3 June 2023, establishing the "mechanisms and procedures for controlling traffic on the networks of telecommunications service operators" that apply "to all operators and providers of licensed telecommunications services".
The amendment, Impissa explained, "is justified by the growing use of communications for digital public services, including state and financial services", resulting in "a significant increase in fraud and crimes based on telecommunications areas", as well as "an increase in cyber attacks and economic crimes against digital infrastructures and digital services"
The situation also leads to "the emergence of new forms of crime against citizens and the state, using social networks and artificial intelligence tools, affecting private life and social and economic peace, as well as national sovereignty," the spokesperson said.
"With this amendment, the conditions are created to guarantee greater security in the services provided through telecommunications networks and to protect public security and the public interest and the State, as well as duly licensed telecommunications operators," the cabinet spokesman added.
PVJ/ADB // ADB.
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