Malawi - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Malawi’s network operators adjust to SIM card registration deadline

Malawi is one of the world’s least developed and poorest countries globally and has suffered from inconsistent economic growth in recent years. Businesses endured high inflation and a rapidly depreciating currency in 2015 and 2016, though the economy has since rebounded, with GDP expected to have grown 3.5% in 2018, and the currency has stabilised. These factors have enabled telecom operators to fund network upgrades, with the result that considerable investment has been channelled into fixed-line and mobile infrastructure upgrades in recent years.

Mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector. TMN was the first operator to launch an LTE-A service, followed by Airtel Malawi in January 2018. The market remains a duopoly between these two operators given the failure of G-Mobile and Celcom Malawi to launch services. However, there is expectation that Lacell Private (operating under the Smart Mobile brand) will provide some competition and encourage a reduction in end-user prices. In a bid to discourage crime the regulator has imposed SIM card registration, effective for all new cards since July 2018.

To encourage additional market competition, the government has followed in the footsteps of several of its neighbours and introduced a converged licensing regime which allows the two fixed-line operators, Malawi Telecommunications (MTL) and Access Communications (ACL) to enter the mobile market as well. The converged licensing regime was revised and came into force in September 2016.

The internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region. DSL services are available. The incumbent in late 2017 closed down the CDMA network, while the WiMAX component was closed down in early 2018.

A national fibre backbone is nearing completion, while the country recently gained access to international submarine fibre optic cables via a transit link from neighbouring countries.

Key developments:

New SIM cards required registration process;
Airtel Malawi launches LTE services;
Mobile Termination Rates begin glide path reduction through to 2020; MTL switches off its CDMA network;
World Bank provides $72.4 million to help Malawi engage in the digital economy;
Regulators of Zambia and Malawi sign MoU related to cooperative efforts in the telecom and broadcasting sectors;
TNM boasts 46% increase in net profit for H1 2018;
TNM launches LTE-A services;
National Fibre Backbone Project nears completion;
Reserve Bank of Malawi reports on m-payment progress;
Regulator develops Universal Access Fund (UAF) to deliver mobile services to rural areas;
White space spectrum trials to increase broadband availability;
Report updates include recent market developments, operator data to Q2 2018.

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.

Table of Contents

Key statistics
Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Malawi Communications Act 1998
Malawi Communications Act 2016
ICT Policy
Regulatory authority
Telecom sector liberalisation
Privatisation
Converged licensing regime
Universal service
Interconnection

Fixed network operators

Malawi Telecommunications (MTL)
Access Communications

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network
International infrastructure

Submarine cable networks

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
Broadband statistics
Fixed-line broadband technologies

Digital economy
Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics

General statistics
Mobile broadband
Forecasts – mobile subscribers – 2019; 2021; 2023

Regulatory issues

SIM card registration
Mobile Termination Rates (MTRs)

Major mobile operators

TNM
Airtel Malawi (formerly Zain, Celtel)
G-Mobile (GAIN)
Celcom Malawi
Lacell Private (Smart Mobile)

Mobile Infrastructure

4G (LTE)
3G

Mobile data

Mobile applications and services

m-money

Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Malawi – 2018 (e)
Table 2 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Malawi – 1999 – 2009
Table 3 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Malawi – 2010 – 2018
Table 4 – International bandwidth – 2001 – 2016
Table 5 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 1999 – 2009
Table 6 – Internet users and penetration rate – 2010 – 2018
Table 7 – Fixed broadband subscribers – 2003 – 2018
Table 8 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in Malawi – 1999 - 2009
Table 9 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate in Malawi – 2010 – 2018
Table 10 – Active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration in Malawi – 2010 – 2018
Table 11 – Forecasts – mobile subscribers in Malawi – 2019; 2021; 2023
Table 12 – TNM financial results – 2009 – 2018
Table 13 – TNM ARPU ($) – 2003 – 2013
Table 14 – TNM ARPU (MWK) – 2014 – 2016
Table 15 – TNM mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2017
Table 16 – TNM mobile bases stations in service – 2014 – 2016
Table 17 – Airtel Malawi mobile subscribers – 2016 – 2017

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Fixed lines in service and teledensity in Malawi – 2005 – 2018
Chart 2 – Internet users and penetration rate – 2005 – 2018
Chart 3 – Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 2002 – 2018
Chart 4 – TNM financial results – 2009 – 2018

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Focus Report Profile

Technologies

Broadband Fixed
Companies (Major Players)
Internet
Mobile & Wireless Broadband and Media
Mobile Communications (voice and infrastructure)
Regulations & Government Policies
Strategies & Analyses (Industry & Markets)
Telecoms Infrastructure

Number of pages 50

Status Current

Last updated 22 Nov 2018
Update History

Lead Analyst: Henry Lancaster

Contributing Analysts:

Peter Lange

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