Court rules for MACRA in interconnection dispute (Malawi)

The High Court of Malawi has reportedly upheld a decision by telecoms regulator Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to introduce a new interconnection law governing calls across both fixed and mobile networks.

Two mobile operators, Airtel Malawi (formerly Zain/Celtel) and Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), had attained an injunction against the introduction of the Sender Keeps All (SKA) interconnection regime, in which the operator originating the call keeps all of the revenues it collects. However, having heard arguments from MACRA and the operators, the court has now lifted the injunction.

According to a statement from MACRA following the 23 December 2010 ruling, this means therefore that the court’s decision vindicates the legality and rationale of MACRA’s decision to intervene in the interconnection dispute that currently exists among operators. The regulator has now instructed all fixed and wireless operators to abide by the new interconnection law.