Regulatory Alerts2024-01-01
Bank of Zambia Circular No. 20/2024: Change of Service Provider for ZIPSS, CSD and EBoP Networks
The Bank of Zambia is onboarding Fibrecom Limited as an alternative service provider, requiring all ZIPSS, CSD and EBoP participants to migrate from the LIQUID network in a single-step transition beginning February 22, 2025. Fibrecom will extend last-mile connectivity to participant sites between December 16, 2024 and February 21, 2025 while participants verify basic link connectivity without making configuration changes. Commercial banks and money transfer operators are instructed to disseminate this notice to their information technology teams to ensure timely infrastructure preparation and seamless network migration.
[Logo: Bank of Zambia]
Bank of Zambia OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR - OPERATIONS
BOZ/EXEC/DG/ict/bp
December 12, 2024
CB Circular No. : 20/2024
To : All Heads of Commercial Bank and Money Transfer Operator
NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF SERVICE PROVIDER ON THE ZAMBIA INTERBANK PAYMENT AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEM, CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY AND ELECTRONIC BALANCE OF PAYMENTS SYSTEM NETWORK
Reference is made to the above subject.
The Bank of Zambia is in the process of onboarding Fibrecom Limited as an alternative service provider on the Zambia Interbank Payment and Settlement System, Central Securities Depository and Electronic Balance of Payments System network. This change will entail a migration of all participants from the LIQUID Intelligent Technologies network to Fibrecom network, starting on Saturday, February 22, 2025, and ending on Sunday, February 23, 2025. Due to resilience and business continuity considerations, this change will happen in a single step (Big Bang approach) as opposed to gradual transitioning of individual participants to the new service provider.
Fibrecom Limited will begin working with all participants starting Monday, December 16, 2024, through to February 21, 2025, to extend their last-mile presence to all the participants’ sites. While participants will be called upon to test basic connectivity of the new Fibrecom last-mile links, no configuration changes will take place until the migration day, Saturday, February 22, 2024. A schedule of the last-mile installations by Fibrecom has been attached to this notice for your reference.
We recommend that this information be shared with individuals who work directly with information and communication technology network infrastructure to ensure that communicated information and any related activities are received and actioned by all stakeholders.
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Bank Square, Cairo Road, P.O. Box 30080, Lusaka, Zambia Tel:+260-211-399303, 399300, E-mail: dgo@boz.zm. Web: http://www.boz.zm
CB Circular No. 20/2024 - 2 - December 12, 2024
Please do not hesitate to contact the Bank of Zambia at networkoperations@boz.zm for more information or support relating to this exercise.
[Signature] Francis Chipimo (PhD) DEPUTY GOVERNOR
cc Governor Deputy Governor – Administration Director – Information and Communications Technology Director – Payment Systems
Bank Square, Cairo Road, P.O. Box 30080, Lusaka, Zambia Tel:+260-211-399303, 399300, E-mail: dgo@boz.zm. Web: http://www.boz.zm