The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) was established in 1998 and later in 2017 to regulate by licensing and monitoring the provision of the communications services in Malawi. MACRA is responsible for licensing telecommunications, postal and broadcasting operators, settling disputes among operators, approving tariffs, promoting and monitoring free and fair competition, assigning and managing the radio frequency spectrum and numbering resources, type approving terminal equipment and protecting communication services consumers. MACRA also serves as the Secretariat for the Universal Service Funds (USF). Malawi’s telecommunications and internet industry is recovering from a two-year period of poor economic performance in 2011 and 2012. The current state of the industry is relatively young compared to most African countries, characterized by high prices and low penetration levels. Economic difficulties have hindered network upgrades, but the recent infrastructural developments put in place should see an improvement.
For more information on telecoms contacts, please see the following link:
4.11 Malawi Additional Service Provision Contact List
|
Telephone Services |
|
|---|---|
|
Is there an existing landline telephone network? |
Yes |
|
Does it allow international calls? |
Yes |
|
Number and Length of Downtime Periods (on average) |
Landline services are available, but services are patchy |
|
Mobile Phone Providers |
List |
|
Approximate Percentage of National Coverage |
Simple and extensive coverage |
Communications Act and Communications (Electronic Communication Equipment) (Type Approval) Regulations
Licensing procedures:
Procedures for the importation of CPE equipment:
- All electronic communication equipment must have a provisional type approval, type approval or a type acceptance from the MACRA
- All applicants for licences need to specify if they require scarce resources such as numbering or spectrum
- During emergencies priority is given to applications that are related to safety of life and security of property and these should be processed within 24 hours
- Waivers for VSAT equipment user fees may be issued for humanitarian organisation during disasters and emergencies
- Requirements vary depending on the type of ICT equipment that is being imported
Please note: Aircraft radio equipment require approval from MACRA prior to use. Besides, there is an MOU between MACRA and DCA where DCA will not issue an Aircraft licence prior to the user obtaining a radio licence.
|
Regulations |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Regulations on usage or import of: |
Yes / No |
Regulating Authority |
|
Satellite |
n/a |
Need a class licence. Type approval required |
|
HF Radio |
Yes |
Need a class licence. Type approval required |
|
UHF/VHF/HF radio: handheld, base and mobile |
Yes |
Need a class licence. Type approval required |
|
UHF/VHF repeaters |
Yes |
Need a class licence, Type approval required |
|
GPS |
n/a |
No restrictions on usage |
|
VSAT |
Yes |
Need a class licence, Type approval required |
|
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required |
||
|
n/a |
||
|
Frequency Licenses Required |
||
|
Regulations on Usage and Import |
||
|---|---|---|
|
|
Regulations in Place? |
Regulating Authority |
|
Satellite |
Yes |
MACRA |
|
HF Radio |
Yes |
MACRA |
|
UHF/VHF/HF Radio: Handheld, Base and Mobile |
Yes |
MACRA |
|
UHF/VHF Repeaters |
Yes |
MACRA |
|
GPS |
No |
N/A |
|
VSAT |
Yes |
MACRA |
|
Individual Network Operator Licences Required |
||
|
Yes |
||
|
Frequency Licenses Required |
||
|
Yes |
||
Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems
Existing UN Telecommunication Systems
|
Organizations |
UNDP |
WFP |
UNICEF |
WHO |
UNHCR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
VHF frequencies |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
HF frequencies |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Repeaters (Locations) |
Lilongwe |
Lilongwe & Blantyre |
Lilongwe |
n/a |
n/a |
|
VSAT |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
In Malawi, there are more than Six Internet Service Providers who can be contracted by UN agencies, and other NGOs. Most of the companies have Service Level Agreement (SLA) with these ISPs. Those with most coverage are Inq Digital (formerly Syband), globe, Airtel and Telekom Networks Malawi, Malawi Telecommunications Limited among others. These provide both fixed and mobile broadband at different speeds and capacity depending on the SLAs All of these companies are privately owned, and prices are very competitive.
|
COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTING CENTER LIMITED |
|
DATACOM |
|
ESCOM |
|
MALAWI NET |
|
MALAWI SNDP |
|
NITEL LIMITED |
|
GLOBE INTERNET LIMITED |
|
MAREN LIMITED |
|
SKYBAND CORPORATION LIMITED |
|
BUSINESS COMPUTERS LIMITED |
|
Simbanet Limited |
|
Computer Automation Limited |
|
Mobile Content Africa Limited |
|
Inq Digital Limited |
|
Bengonet |
|
Fast Networks |
|
Airtel Malawi |
|
Malcel Limited |
|
Nyasa Mobile Limited |
|
Open Connect Limited |
|
Telecom Networks Malawi |
|
Malawi Telecommunications Limited |
|
Access Communications Limited |
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)
For information on MNOs please visit their websites at www.tnm.co.mw and www.airtel.mw as they are all listed companies.
|
Company |
Number of Agent Outlets by Area |
Network Strength by Area |
Contracted for Humanitarian or Government Cash Transfer Programmes? |
Services Offered (i.e. Merchant Payment, Bulk Disbursement, Receive & Make Payment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Telekom Networks Malawi |
>99,000 agents nation wide |
Generally good apart from in hilly areas where network coverage is poor in the blind spots |
Yes, currently disbursing Mtukula Pakhomo funds to government beneficiaries in Thyolo, Karonga, Blantyre and Nkhotakota.
The company has ever processed and is still processing humanitarian funds to beneficiaries of Catholic Relief Services, World vision international, World Health, Manepo, Action Aid, Christian Aid, CARD, Feed the children and Concern worldwide just to mention a few |
Merchant payments Bulk disbursements Bill payments P2P transfers International remittance Savings and Lending Investments Collections Insurance Push to bank |
|
Airtel Malawi |
>99,000 Active Agents |
Generally good apart from hilly areas where network coverage is poor in the blind spots
4G: 69% Population coverage |
Yes, in 2021 we conducted CUCI cash transfers implemented by National Local Govt Finance Committee and Ministry of Gender COVID19 Urban Cash Intervention (MK11.2Bn), and currently conducting COVID19 Urban Cash Intervention Phase 2 (MK4.6Bn) Other partners contracted include Give Directly Inc, World Vision International, Christian Aid amongst others. In the past, we conducted WFP cash transfers for Lean Season response and MVAC projects with their participating partners that include Save The Children, Plan International and United Purpose |
Cash-in and Cash-out services mostly done via Airtel Money Branches (>1,300) Airtel Money Kiosks (>4.000) and agents (>99,000) |
