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ESWATINI

Since October 2016

Pillar Domestic data policies  |  Indicator Minimum period for data retention
Electronic Communications (Subscribers Registration) Regulations, 2016
Section 10.2 (a) and (b) of the Electronic Communications (Subscriber Registration) Regulations on Data protection provides that personal information shall be stored by the licensee for a period of five years after a customer has cancelled a contract with the licensee or where the licensee has ended the services provided to the customer. In this Regulation, in accordance with Section 2 (Interpretation), licensee means any electronic communications service licensed by the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) for the provision of electronic communications services in Eswatini.
Coverage Electronic communications services

ESWATINI

Since March 2018, entry into force in August 2021

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights Act, 4/2018
Eswatini has a clear regime of copyright exceptions that follows the fair dealing model, allowing others to make lawful use of copyrighted works without obtaining permission. The Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights Act 4/2018 outlines the limitations and permitted acts that align with international standards and regulations. Part IV of the Act specifies that no copyright infringement occurs in several instances, including fair dealing for research or private study, as well as fair dealing for criticism, review, or news reporting. This fair dealing model has been applied since the previous law, The Copyright Act, 1912, which was repealed by the current Act.
Coverage Horizontal

ESWATINI

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
Eswatini has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

ESWATINI

N/A

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Lack of signature of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Eswatini has not signed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

ESWATINI

In August 2018
In May 2019

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
African Oxygen Ltd v Tony Coster & Another 114/2018 (2018) SZHC 185

African Oxygen v Tony Coster & Another 73/2018 (2018) SZSC 6
The protection of trade secrets is contractually and enforced between the parties, usually between employer and employee, partners or shareholders. The case of African Oxygen Ltd and Tony Coster & Another illustrates how the High Court dealt and the Supreme Court, respectively, with the law and principle on trade secrets and their protection.
Coverage Horizontal

ESWATINI

Since July 2013
Since 2016

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Electronic Communications Act, 2013

Electronic Communications (Facilities Sharing) Regulations, 2016
Section 24 of the Electronic Communications Act authorises the Commission to mandate licensees to fulfil reasonable requests for access to and utilisation of specified network elements and associated facilities. This provision requires operators to grant third parties access to designated network elements or facilities and to facilitate infrastructure sharing, including but not limited to ducts, buildings, or masts. Pursuant to the authority vested by Section 24 of the Act, the Minister for Information, Communications, and Technology enacted the Electronic Communications (Facilities Sharing) Regulations, which delineate the aforementioned passive infrastructure sharing obligations.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ESWATINI

Since December 1983
Since August 1989
Since July 2013

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share for investment in the telecommunication sector
Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation Act, 1983

Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act, 8/1989

Electronic Communications Act, 2013
The Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) is entirely owned by the government, with no local or foreign firms holding equity shares in the corporation. Sections 3-5 of the Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation Act establish the corporation and its governing structures in accordance with the Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act (PEA).
According to Section 53 of the Electronic Communications Act, EPTC shall have the exclusive right of establishing, constructing, maintaining and operating the national telecommunications backbone infrastructure within the country.
Coverage Telecom backbone infrastructure

ESWATINI

Since December 1998

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation Act, 1983
According to the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) website, EPTC is a "Category A" enterprise established by Act No. 11 of 1983. "Category A" refers to state-owned enterprises that are wholly government-owned. EPTC comprises four business units: Eswatini Telecom, Eswatini Post, Phutfumani Couriers and Freight, and the National Contact Centre.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ESWATINI

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Lack of mandatory functional and accounting separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that Eswatini does not mandate functional or accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

ESWATINI

Since July 2013

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Licensing restrictions to operate in the telecom market
Electronic Communications Act, 2013
Section 4.3 of the Electronic Communications Act establishes that the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) may establish ownership limitations for providers of electronic communications services in order to ensure sufficient numbers of unaffiliated market participation and may take appropriate actions and measures to ensure the participation of unaffiliated market participants in the event of market failure.
Coverage Electronic communications

ESWATINI

Since December 2020

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Public Procurement Regulations, 2020
According to Art. 12 of the Public Procurement Regulations, procuring entities may grant a price preference of up to 15% to Eswatini companies in the bidding process. According to Art. 12.2 of the Regulations, an Eswatini company is a company registered in Eswatini and whose controlling shares are 60% owned by Eswatini citizens. In addition, foreign companies can also enjoy a price preference of up to 7.5% if they subcontract to Swazi companies or supply Swaziland-made products.
Coverage Horizontal

ESWATINI

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Eswatini is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal

ESWATINI

Since December 1983
Since August 1989
Since July 2013

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation Act, 1983

Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act, 8/1989

Electronic Communications Act, 2013
The Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) is entirely owned by the government, with no local or foreign firms holding equity shares in the corporation. Sections 3-5 of the Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation Act establish the corporation and its governing structures in accordance with the Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act (PEA).
According to Section 53 of the Electronic Communications Act, EPTC shall have the exclusive right of establishing, constructing, maintaining and operating the national telecommunications backbone infrastructure within the country.
Coverage Telecom backbone infrastructure

ESWATINI

Since August 1989

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act, 8/1989
The Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act (PEA) has no specific provisions that prohibit the appointment of foreigners as board members or directors in government-owned enterprises. However, there has never been an instance where a foreigner was appointed to be either a chief, director or board member of a government enterprise. It is reported that, when one looks at the architecture of the appointment process for members of the board for government enterprises, it is clear that the intention is not to have foreigners forming part of the boards of these entities. The Board members are appointed by the responsible Minister in consultation with the Standing Committee, which is comprised of Cabinet Ministers (Sections 2 and 6).
Coverage State-owned Enterprises (SOEs)

ESWATINI

Reported in 2020, last reported in 2023

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Screening of investment and acquisitions
Local presence requirement for investment
It is reported that every foreign investor must obtain a trading licence in line with the Trading Licence Order of 1975. In addition, foreign investors must also acquire residence and work permits prior to their investments and are required to hire local workers wherever possible.
Coverage Horizontal

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