Business updates

Applicants and Licensees of the ICT Authority are informed that the Authority is still accepting and processing applications sent electronically and payments made by bank transfer during the lockdown period.

In addition, to adjust to the prevailing situation, the Authority is reviewing certain procedures to cater for licensees who are unable to fulfil their obligations. Adjustments in procedures have also been made for applicants for licences and for tariff approvals.

The details are set out below: -

a) For the said period, provisions of section 24(6) of the ICT Act which provides for a statutory delay of 30 days from the date of receipt of an application for licence, for the Authority to convey its decision, shall not apply. Decisions on complete applications for licences will be communicated within two weeks from the end of the lockdown period.

b) The surcharge of 10 percent shall not be applicable where annual fees or any instalment remain unpaid within the time specified in the Information and Communication Technologies (Licensing and Fees) Regulations 2003. The surcharge will become applicable should no payment be received within two weeks from the end of the lockdown period.

c) Licences which have reached their expiry date since the beginning of the lockdown period or which are reaching their expiry date during the said period shall be automatically extended until 1 May 2020. Applications for renewal shall, however, be received by the Authority within two weeks from the end of the lockdown period.

d) The provisions of sections 31(7) and 31(8) of the ICT Act regarding the approval of tariffs shall not apply during the lockdown period.

e) The surcharge of 1 per cent per month as required under regulation 3 of the Information and Communication Technologies (Universal Service Fund) Regulations 2008 shall not be applicable on monthly instalments. The surcharge will become applicable should no payment be received within two weeks from the end of the lockdown period.