Manzini – The Eswatini Communications Commission has issued Free to Air Commercial Radio Broadcasting Service Licences to Sakha Live FM and Icon Connect Radio, paving the way for two new commercial radio stations in the Kingdom.
The licences were handed over during a ceremony at the ESCCOM offices attended by Ministry of ICT officials, ESCCOM leadership, representatives of the two broadcasters and members of the media.
Sakha Live FM, owned by Sakha Live FM Pty Ltd, and Icon Connect Radio Pty Ltd have been given 12 months to establish their stations and begin broadcasting. Failure to meet the deadline could result in the licences being revoked. 
The licences are valid for 10 years, subject to compliance with the Broadcasting Act of 2023, regulations issued by ESCCOM, licence conditions and payment of prescribed fees.
ESCCOM Acting Chief Executive Officer Ozzie Thakatha said the new commercial radio stations would widen programming choices and provide more room for public participation in the broadcasting sector.
He said the entry of the stations was expected to bring greater programming diversity, new broadcasting approaches, stronger audience engagement and a wider range of voices and opinions on Eswatini’s airwaves.
The licences form part of the Commission’s implementation of the Broadcasting Act, 2023, and its mandate to build a competitive, diverse and sustainable broadcasting sector for Emaswati.
Icon Connect Radio representative Phila Koshini said the station intended to support local content creators and help take Eswatini’s talent to international markets.
Sakha Live FM representative Melusi Dlamini said the station would create new opportunities for local creators while complying with broadcasting regulations and producing quality programming.
The two stations become the Kingdom’s first holders of Free to Air Commercial Radio Broadcasting Service Licences, following ESCCOM’s final decision on the applications.
