The formulation of the Guidelines was done in consultation and with input from the industry players, to ensure buy-in and full understanding of the responsibilities carried by the framework. These include the delivery of services based on speed and efficiency, real-time tracking and professional packaging, amongst others. The issuance of new licences also represents a growth and competition in the sector, which ultimately result in improved quality of service provision and lower prices for the consumer.

To support the operations of these entities, ESCCOM is already working with the government of Eswatini to develop a National Postcode and Addressing System. The main objective of this exercise is to place a formal address to every homestead, church, clinic and school in the country. Through this project, it is envisaged that e-commerce will thrive and goods bought online will be delivered to everyone’s doorstep.

A total of 7 applicants were presented with their milestone Postal and Courier licences and these are;

POSTAL LICENCES

1.                    Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation t/a Eswatini Post;

COURIER LICENCES

1.            DHL Express Swaziland (PTY) Limited;

2.            Eliang Courier Services (PTY) Limited;

3.            Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation t/a Phutfumani Couriers;

4.            FEDEX Express Swaziland (PTY) Limited;

5.            Interfreight (PTY) Limited; and

6.            Triton Express (PTY) Limited

All the above service providers submitted applications to the Commission, along with the required documentation, and met the evaluation criteria as set in the licensing framework.

Consumers can now confidently use the services of these companies, as they conduct their business within the standards set. In the case of a customer not being satisfied, they are covered ESCCOM’s Consumer Complaints Procedure.

The Commission remains open to receive and evaluate more applications from interested companies who would also like to be licensed to provide courier services.

At the same event, an additional six (6) Service Providers had their General Electronic Communications Services licences renewed, after passing the renewal evaluation process to continue operating. These organisations had initially been licensed in May 2017, and the renewal is for an additional 5 years. The evaluation of their applications to renew included an assessment of their compliance with licence conditions, financial and technical capacity as well as meeting eligibility requirements according to the Electronic Communications Act. The operators who had their licences renewed were;

1.            Computronics Systems (PTY) Limited;

2.            Dimension DATA MEA (PTY) Limited;

3.            Ironstamp Investments (PTY) Limited;

4.            Jenny Internet Swaziland (PTY) Limited;

5.            SwaziSat (PTY) Limited; and

6.            Touch IT Investments (PTY) Limited

These Licensees provide the backbone of what we have come to know as the “new normal” following the Covid-19 outbreak. Their sector is highly competitive, and the challenge is for them to :

·         Provide reliable services that meet or better the required quality of service.

·         Ensure that the services they provide are always available at the quality required.

·         Strive to make the services affordable to the ordinary Liswati.

·         Expand the services to unserved and underserved communities

to ensure that all Emaswati have access to internet services and no one is left behind.

·         Embrace new technologies/innovation appropriate for the 4th Industrial Revolution and beyond.

·         Ensure consumer protection and protection of personal data.

·         Ensure they keep abreast with the ever-changing consumer demands.

·         Contribute towards the attainment of broadband targets for the country.

The ESCCOM Chief Executive, Mvilawemphi Dlamini, ended his remarks by reaffirming “the Commission’s commitment to ensure that electronic communications services and ICTs remain the enabler for economic growth for the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Commission will strive to ensure that the sector is advancing to meet the upsurge in demand for reliable communications services and to ensure that the cost to communicate is significantly reduced.”