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Malawi Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

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Last updated: 2 Aug 2024 Update History

Report Status: Current

Report Pages: 111

Lead Analyst: Henry Lancaster

Contributing Analyst: Peter Lange

Malawi benefits from the World Bank’s $2.48 billion Digital Inclusion Acceleration Program

With few natural resources to rely on for economic prosperity, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries. There has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and indeed the incumbent telco has responded to the regular theft of copper cabling by decommissioning most telephone exchanges, with the result that almost all fixed-line connectivity is now via VoIP.

This development has reinforced the dominance of the country’s two mobile network operators Airtel Malawi and TMN in the provision of voice and data services. Both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services, though the lack of further market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has meant that Malawi’s mobile subscribers pay some of the highest prices for services in the region. Nevertheless, the government in late 2020 managed to secure an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs. Following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third. In October 2023 the government urged the MNOs to reduce data costs and so facilitate the Digital Malawi program, aimed at making internet connectivity more affordable and more widely available.

Mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there remain considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector. Low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, as also to the relatively high price of data considering the low average income.

The internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs. Again, the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region. These limitations are being addressed by the government’s efforts to expand the national fibre backbone.

Key developments:

  • TNM decommissions most telecom exchanges due to theft of copper cables.
  • Regulator develops a Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bill intended to promote entrepreneurship and digital innovation, launches a five-year Universal Service Fund (USF) Strategic Plan.
  • USF computers are donated to Teacher Training Colleges as part of the Universal Service’s Connect a School Project.
  • Malcel is granted a licence to operate as Malawi’s third mobile operator, pledging to invest up to $280 million in rolling out network infrastructure and in setting up its MCASH m-money service.
  • Regulator renews Airtel Malawi’s three operating licences through to 2034.
  • TNM starts 5G trials in collaboration with Huawei.
  • Devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha against the US dollar in November 2023 negatively affects telcos’ revenue.
  • Malawi becomes a main beneficiary of the World Bank’s $2.48 billion Digital Inclusion Acceleration Program aimed at expanding broadband access, deploying public infrastructure, and developing digital applications and services.
  • Number of active m-money agents increased 21.7% in 2023.
  • Report updates include recent market developments, regulator’s market report to June 2022 and ICT survey for 2023, operator data to Q4 2023, ITU’s market data for 2023, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), Access Communications (ACL), Bharti Airtel (Zain, Celtel), Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM), G-Mobile (GAIN), Celcom, ESCOM, MalawiNet, MTL Online, Skyband, Globe Internet, Broadmax, Burco

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