Mozambique toughens telecom traffic control with new Decree 48/2025

Mozambique’s Council of Ministers has approved a new Regulation for Telecommunications Traffic Control under Decree No. 48/2025, replacing the 2023 framework to strengthen national security, combat cybercrime and tighten oversight of network traffic across all licensed operators.

On 16 December 2025, Mozambique’s Council of Ministers enacted Decree No. 48/2025, formally approving a new Regulation for Telecommunications Traffic Control and revoking the previous regime introduced by Decree No. 38/2023. The reform responds to the rapid evolution of the digital ecosystem and a documented rise in telecommunications-based crime and cyberattacks.

Under the new framework, the National Communications Institute of Mozambique (INCM) receives expanded powers to install and operate traffic-monitoring systems directly within the infrastructure of licensed operators. Telecom and internet providers are now legally required to supply detailed communications data – including Call Detail Records (CDR) and Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) – so that authorities can monitor security threats and verify that all traffic is correctly billed and taxed.

The regulation defines “fraudulent traffic” as unauthorised or manipulated communications intended to evade charges, conceal the origin of calls or compromise network integrity. Operators must conduct annual network audits and are obliged to report or suspend suspicious traffic within two hours of confirming irregularities. INCM may order temporary service interruptions in response to serious security risks, but any suspension lasting more than 48 hours must be validated by a judicial authority to safeguard users’ fundamental rights.

Financially, telecom operators must contribute to the cost of regulatory activities through a levy capped at 1% of gross annual revenue, while non-compliance can trigger fines ranging from 500 to 3,500 minimum public-sector salaries, with penalties potentially doubled if negligence causes loss of state revenue. The decree sits alongside broader 2025 reforms to Mozambique’s digital and communications framework, including new national roaming rules, a postal sector development strategy and draft data-protection legislation aimed at building a more secure and trusted online environment.

For digital service providers – from mobile money and fintech to streaming, gaming and online platforms – the updated rules mean closer scrutiny of traffic flows and stricter obligations to cooperate with INCM on security and fraud prevention, in a context where cybercrime and illicit online activity are increasingly seen as threats to both economic stability and national sovereignty.