PRESS RELEASE: BOARD GRANTS NEW LICENCES, AMENDS AND REVOKES SOME OPERATING LICENCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS GRANTS NEW LICENCES, AMENDS AND REVOKES SOME OPERATING LICENCES

The Board of Directors of the Lesotho Communications Authority at its sitting on the 9 January 2019 made the following decisions in regard to operating licences in the communications sector.

1. The Board approved the new broadcasting licences. These are:

• Anglican Church to provide private broadcasting services nationally based in Maseru.
• Thato Ea Hau to provide private broadcasting services nationally based at Maputsoe.
• Mohale FM to provide commercial broadcasting services nationally deploying digital audio broadcasting (DAB) transmission, based in Maseru.
• Benzo Media Group, which will trade as People on the Move to provide private broadcasting services nationally, based in Maseru.
• Radio Souru (RS) to provide community-broadcasting services in Qacha’s Nek.
• Pheshakwe Qhili, which will trade as Mose ho Seaka to provide community broadcasting services in Quthing.

2. The Board also approved the revocation of Mojalema network licence. The licensee had failed to commence operations since it was awarded a licence in 2014.
3. The Board also approved licence amendments of Radio Spes Nostra for transfer of its sound broadcasting licence to Radio Maria Lesotho.
4. The Board also approved the amendments of LECC licence. The LECC amendments are meant to enable LEC Communications to deploy other cost effective technologies in provision of its licensed services and to allow it to do business with resale internet service providers.