The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has officially awarded a mobile operating licence to Malcel, as the new company seeks to compete with established mobile network operators Airtel and Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM). Capital Radio Malawi reports that the award of three licences to Malcel will enable it to install mobile phone towers, and provide mobile, ICT and broadband services. Malcel’s founder and CEO Bonface Ndawala said that the company plans to begin the rollout of its network this year ahead of a scheduled launch of operations by October 2023. Malcel will invest around USD280 million in its operations and aims to roll out 1,350 mobile sites over five years. The operator is 60% owned by Eferio Communications, with 30% held by local company Bedrock Holdings and the remaining 10% by local and international shareholders.
‘Let me take this opportunity to congratulate Malcel for successfully acquiring the mobile network licence, it is my hope that this will induce competition in the telecommunications industry which will level the playing field and yield effective communication services for the ICT consumer,’ said Minister of Information Gospel Kazako, adding: ‘I urge Malcel to roll out their services with speed as consumers are anxious to see new services … My plea to Malcel is that you must not get into the trap of concentrating your operations in urban areas because rural people also need ICT services.’
The development follows a report in May that another company – Nyasa Mobile – had announced its intention to roll out services by the end of this year. The firm, which is a subsidiary of Nyasa Manufacturing Company, has allegedly been in discussions with UK-based Vodafone Group about a potential strategic partnership. TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database states that numerous attempts by the government over the last 20 years to introduce much-needed competition to the mobile sector have so far failed. The market is characterised by high tariffs and poor service quality, with mobile penetration standing at just 59% of the population at the end of March 2022.