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Macra warns Zain Malawi to work on easing congestion (Malawi)

  • September 23rd, 2008
  • 6:08 am

Zain Malawai is warned  by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) for focussing more quantity rather than quality. A local media reports that Zain Malawi is putting less emphasis on attracting new customers and instead they should concentrate on easing the congestion concerns of its existing subscribers. According to the Chairman of Macra Board, If the service does not improve next time we will write to Zain management. This warning comes after Zain plans to increase its customer base from one million to 3.5 million at a cost of USD102 million by the end of 2009.

MACRA awards GAIN the cellular sevices license (Malawi)

  • July 23rd, 2008
  • 1:54 pm

Malawi’s Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), has finally awarded an individual licence to Global Advanced Integrated Networks Limited (GAIN) to provide cellular telecommunications services in the country.

Gain is the third mobile service provider alongside Celtel Malawi and Telekom Networks, and it is expected that the high cellular charges will be lower with a third competitor on the market.

According to the officials, a new mobile service provider will contribute to the promotion of the development of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) in both urban and rural areas of the country.The company will promote competition in the telecommunications industry, thereby increasing the quality and affordability of the telecommunication services for the benefit of all people in the country.

Five bidders for new mobile licence (Malawi)

  • July 7th, 2007
  • 9:43 am

Three local companies have joined two foreign firms in the race for a licence to deploy mobile phone services in Malawi. The Malawi Communication and Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has revealed that local concerns Malcom Ltd, Megatel Communications Ltd and Globally Integrated Networks have submitted bids, alongside Econet Wireless International of South Africa and Millennium Globe Telecom Ltd of the USA. The regulator is evaluating the bids to check if they were in line with specified guidelines. A spokesperson for MACRA said, ‘We check compliance to instructions as contained in the invitation to apply document, which include the need to indicate the financial capability and technical capacity among others. This is a capital-intensive investment and it is expected that bidders should have enough financial resources.’ There were eleven companies that obtained bid documents, but only five applied. The winner will join established cellcos Celtel and Telekom Networks Malawi.

 

 

   

Electric board begins installing fibre (Malawi)

  • June 28th, 2007
  • 8:22 am

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has said the installation of a MWK2.1 billion (USD15 million) fibre-optic cable is underway. The cable, between Lilongwe and Blantyre is intended to ‘improve interconnectivity nationally, regionally and globally in a more secure and safe environment,’ said an Escom spokeswoman, adding that the company had already completed installation of a Salima-Kanengo fibre link and was leasing it to telecoms firms in accordance with a commercial operating licence issued by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). She also said that a Salima – Mzuzu – Karonga fibre link was expected to be installed in 2009.