A technique used to manage the provision of electricity has impacted the performance of mobile service providers in Zambia.

Load shedding, or shutting down electricity to certain parts of the grid as demand outstrips supply, means that rural sites operated by mobile carriers have to be powered by diesel-fueled generators, according to representatives of Zain Zambia and MTN Zambia. The comments were made at a public forum organized by the Communications Authority of Zambia.

Also discussed at the forum was the government's policy to limit access to an international gateway supporting roaming to Zamtel, over which consumers expressed concern.

However, the authority's Susan Mulikita, director of economics and research, said that Zamtel has agreed with other mobile service providers to reduce costs for international calls and that savings will be passed on to consumers.

"To the extent that other mobile service providers would like to have the International Gateway, yes, they must feel that they are unfairly treated," said Mulikita.

Responding to consumer questions about the possibility of national roaming within networks, Mulikita explained that national roaming was possible, but there could be problems based on the type of licenses that each mobile service provider has acquired from the authority. The licenses give service providers the ability to independently build their own infrastructure, and for quality assurance purposes they would rather not use that of another mobile service provider.

Zain's Bridget Nundwe also said that the Zambian unit cannot share its infrastructure now that it has joined the larger regional network of the Zain group.

Consumers also asked about SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card registration, which Mulikita said may be a possibility with a forthcoming ICT bill.