TAKEAWAYS

• UCC plans to establish a joint committee involving regulators, government agencies, security organs and seven hotspot operators.
• Wi-Fi and hotspot businesses must obtain the appropriate licences and distinguish between home-use internet packages and commercial resale services.
• UCC says unlicensed operators were required to voluntarily stop providing telecommunications services by October 19, 2026.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has outlined new guidelines for Wi-Fi and hotspot operators following a series of engagements with players in the industry over licensing, service categorisation, pricing and compliance.

UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo shared the update after holding a third dialogue with Wi-Fi and hotspot operators affiliated with the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), the National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association (NETA), and other individuals involved in the business.

According to Thembo, the discussions focused on finding a balance between protecting consumers, safeguarding investments in telecommunications infrastructure and promoting fair business practices in Uganda’s digital space.

In a statement shared on X, he explained that the commission intends to establish a joint industry committee to improve communication and address operational challenges.

The committee will comprise representatives from UCC, relevant government agencies, security organs and seven hotspot operators. It is expected to streamline communication, resolve industry bottlenecks and ensure continued engagement between regulators and operators.

Thembo also emphasised that operators must obtain the appropriate licences and ensure their businesses are properly categorised according to the law. He noted that providing telecommunications services without a valid licence was not sustainable, stressing that licensing helps formalise operations and support the long-term growth of the sector.

The commission is also introducing clearer service categories to distinguish between different types of operations, including home-use internet packages and commercial resale services.

Under the proposed framework, a registration link will be created to help operators identify the category under which their businesses fall, with information on the applicable costs and registration requirements.

The categorisation is intended to ensure that wholesale, midstream and downstream costs are fairly distributed across the industry.

Additionally, UCC has stressed the importance of compliance with fair-usage requirements, tax declarations and network integrity. Thembo said sustainable pricing should keep services affordable while ensuring that operators comply with national tax and revenue collection systems.

He further cautioned against the commercial resale of home internet packages, noting that some operators purchase packages intended for domestic use and resell the connectivity to neighbours for profit.

According to the commission, such practices can distort market pricing and compromise overall network quality.

“We are regulators with a human face who understand the drive required to build a business, but compliance is non-negotiable to protect legitimate enterprises from unfair competition, secure consumer data, combat cyber threats, and ensure that Uganda’s digital economy grows on a foundation of fairness,” Thembo stated.

The latest engagement follows UCC’s directive for unlicensed operators to voluntarily stop providing telecommunications services. According to Thembo, the seven-day deadline for the stoppage expired on Monday, October 19, 2026.

The commission’s latest measures signal an effort to bring Wi-Fi and hotspot businesses into a regulated framework while addressing concerns about fair competition, consumer protection and the quality of internet services.

Through continued dialogue and enforcement of licensing requirements, UCC aims to ensure that operators conduct their businesses within the law while supporting a more sustainable telecommunications sector.