FAQS
Radio licenses are issued per geographical (40 km) location unless advice so, if you need to change location one need to submit an application requesting for reuse of the same frequency in another area. If the frequency is not used in the area that you want to use it you may be authorized to use it. Note that the frequency allocated for one location is strictly for that area and may not be reused in another area without the consent of BOCRA.
BOCRA encourage customers to buy radio equipment from local, recognized radio dealers for the simple reason that if they are faulty you can always take them back for repair and to also ensure that if they are not programmed properly or need to be deprogrammed you can always have them done locally by your dealer. Note that it is illegal to enter the country with radio equipment that has not been licensed, unless on the expressed authority from the BOCRA.
Type approval of radio equipment has to be done on every equipment that comes into the market, unless if the equipment has been type approved with BOCRA by the manufacturer on behalf of the distributor, BOCRA also wants to satisfy itself that the equipment indeed comply to the standards and technical information that has been provided on the previous application. Note that any variation on the software will require a new type approval.
A radio dealer is a company that has the expertise of maintaining radio equipment. It is a company that sell radios, repair those radios as well as program radios to the allocated frequency or deprogrammed them once they are no longer in use. It is a company that understands the impact that radio equipment may have to human health and the importance of tuning the radios to the allocated frequency.
For type approval of equipments one needs to fill a type approval form indicating his/her business, technical specification of the equipment that he/she wants to type approved, type approval certificate from region1(Africa and Europe/ or any recognized regulator), declaration of conformity from manufacturer. Note for type approval one has to have a repair centre locally or a local office where those equipment maybe taken for repair even though he/she may be importing the equipment from outside.
In order to repair, distribute (sell) radio equipment you require a Radio Dealers license. This license can be obtained from BOCRA after clearly demonstrating that you have the expertise to work with radio equipment and that you have test equipment that you can use to test and tune those radios to the allocated frequency and that financially you can sustain the business. Refer to requirements to have a dealer's license.
To dispose of radio equipment the following steps should be followed: A company wishing to dispose off their radio equipment must write to BOCRA indicating what they intend doing with their radios which they no longer require. Secondly, depending on the status of the radio (still serviceable or unusable) they may take them to a radio dealer who will remove the frequency from the radios (deprogramming), and if they can no longer be used will prepare a boarding certificate. Those that are still in good working condition, once deprogrammed may be sold to a licensed radio operator or the company taking them over must be willing to license them, or may take them to the auctioneers for disposal Note: if you have radios they must be licensed according to the Telecommunication Act whether in use or not.
Normally it should take a maximum of three working days subject to availability of the required information submitted by the applicant.
For one to get a radio license one needs to fill a form called frequency application form which is found under BOCRA website (www.bta.org.bw) under the heading applications, clearly indicating the type of service he/she is running and areas of operations. A copy of company registration should accompany the application form. A second form called license renewal must also be filled giving the details of the equipments that are going to be used (serial numbers, make and model of the radio equipment).
For one to get a cab license or a radio license one needs to fill a form called frequency application form which is found under BOCRA website (www.bta.org.bw) under the heading applications, clearly indicating the type of service he/she is running and areas of operations. A copy of company registration should accompany the application form. A second form called license renewal must also be filled giving the details of the equipments that are going to be used (serial numbers, make and model of the radio equipment).
BOCRA will soon publish growth trends of various telecommunication market segments on its website.
Value-Added-Networks (VANs) provide additional functions to increase the value of basic telecommunication services and infrastructure upon which they were built.
To complain to BOCRA you must first contact or complain to your service provider and if all the channels are exhausted contact the Consumer Affairs Manager or Compliance Department at 395 7755.
The licences fees for these are P10,000.00 initial fee (Once off fee) and P3,000.00 for annual fee. Both fees attract Value Added Tax (VAT).
You can get the application forms from BOCRA.
