Power to license telecommunication systems and services
26.—(1)  A licence may, with the consent of, or in accordance with the terms of a general authority given by the Minister, be granted by the Authority either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the Authority may impose and specify in the licence and either irrevocably or subject to revocation as therein specified for the running of such telecommunication systems and services falling within section 24 as are specified in the licence.
(2)  A licence granted under subsection (1) may be granted either to any person, class of persons or a particular person, and may include (without prejudice to the power to impose conditions conferred by that subsection) conditions requiring —
(a)the interconnection of and access to telecommunication systems of any person, class of persons or a particular person licensed under subsection (1); and
(b)the payment to the Authority of a fee on the grant of the licence or the payment to it of periodic fees during the currency of the licence or both of such amount as may be determined by or under the licence.
(3)  A payment required by subsection (2) to be rendered to the Authority may be recovered by it in any court of competent jurisdiction as if it were a simple contract debt.
(4)  No person shall question whether the grant of a licence under subsection (1) was, or was not, effected with the consent of or in accordance with the terms of a general authority given by the Minister, and the validity of a licence granted under that subsection shall not be impugned on the ground that it was granted neither with the consent of nor in accordance with the terms of a general authority given by the Minister.
(5)  The grant and renewal of licences under this section shall be at the discretion of the Authority.
(6)  Nothing in this section shall prevent the Minister from directing the Authority to grant a licence in any specific case and any person aggrieved by a refusal of the Authority to grant a licence may within 14 days of the refusal appeal to the Minister whose decision shall be final.
(7)  Anything done under and in accordance with a licence granted under subsection (1) shall not constitute an infringement of the privilege conferred by section 24.