Telecommunication Infrastructure | Informatics | ICT Training and Development | Broadcasting/Media
Telecommunication Infrastructure
The public
operator is the Malawi Telecommunications Ltd (MTL). But Malawi
Communications Regulatory Authority (MARCA) is considering issuing a license to a second
fixed line operator.
The
telecommunications sector is regulated by the Malawi Communications Regulatory
Authority (MACRA), under the Ministry of Information, Posts and
Telecommunications.
Teledensity:
- Total: 0.41
(2000)
- Largest cities:
3.72 (2000)
- Rest of the country:
0.24 (2000)
Digital
main lines: 65.0% (2000)
Waiting
list for a telephone line:
- Total: 25,000
(2000)
- Average waiting time:
9.1 years (2000)
- Total demand (k):
70.0 (2000)
- Satisfied demand (%):
64.3 (2000)
Telephone Tariffs
(2000):
| PSTN
connection charge |
US$ 27 |
| PSTN monthly
subscription |
US$ 2.3 |
| PSTN three
minute local call |
US$ 0.03 |
Source:
African Telecommunication Indicators 2001
Public telephones:
540 (2000)
Public
telephones per 1000 inhabitants: 0.05 (2000)
Mobile
cellular subscribers: 49,000 (2000)
Telekom Networks of Malawi
(TNM) operated by Telekom Malaysia is the GSM cellular network
operator in Malawi established in 1995. The shareholders are Telekom Malaysia (60%) and
MPTC (40%). The company has a five-year licence (until 2000) with the option to renew. The
network covers Blantyre, Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Zomba, with plans to expand to the lake
Malawi region and Mogotse.
Celtel Malawi is
the second GSM operator launched in September 1999 as joint venture partnership between
MSI and Malawi Development Corporation. It presently covers Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Mangochi and
blantyre. There were over 49,000 customers by the end of 2000.
Cellular
subscribers as a % of total telephone subscribers: 52.1 (2000)
Mobile cellular tariffs
(2000):
| Connection
charge |
US$ 13.6 |
| Monthly
subscription |
US$ 6.8 |
| Three minute
local call (peak) |
US$ 0.20 |
Source:
African Telecommunication Indicators 2001
Telecommunications
revenue (M US$): 32.8 (2000)
Telecommunications
investment (M US$): na
Telecommunications
investment as a % of revenue: na
Telecom
equipment exports (M US$): na
Telecom
equipment imports (M US$): 3.2 (1999)
Telecentres: an
Facsimiles:
1,300 (1998)
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Informatics
Lead Organization:
Department of Information Systems and Technology Management Services
The University of Malawi operates
UNIMA, a nation-wide publicly accessible FidoNet computer network. UNIMA
uses the public telephone infrastructure for FidoNet and Internet access. Users on the
network must dial into the UNIMA node in Zomba to send, receive, and exchange mail. There
are three telephone calls per day from the Southern Africa NGO network (SANGONET) gateway
in Johannesburg. These provide the main international Internet access for users on UNIMA.
The HealthNet node
in Malawi is based at the College of Medicine in Blantyre, and uses FidoNet technology.
There are over 68 HealthNet users in Malawi, including users at the College of Medicine,
the Ministry of Health, WHO, and others.
- Epsilon and Omega
is a
professional Information Technology and Engineering Management Consulting firm established
in 1990 in Malawi. Epsilon & Omega provides professional support, corporate-tailored
training and consulting services and it has set up in 1995 a commercial e-mail
service in Malawi. Up until June 1997, E&O was the only commercial e-mail service
provider operating in Malawi. The firm has also been involved in the promotion of the use
of e-mail by indigenous Malawians and has facilitated this by providing
"walk-in" email accounts (often referred to as "telecenters") to
clients with no computers, modems or telephone line access. Provision of e-mail is done
via a FidoNet backbone with SANGONet in South Africa as its providers and Internet
connectivity through the new Malawi Net Limited.
In a joint venture effort between
Malawi Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (MPTC) (38%), ComNet of USA (42%) and Bj
Trust of Malawi (20%), MalawiNet was
established in 1997 as the only commercial Internet Service Provider. Since then
additional ISPs have emerged. These are SDNP, BUMAS, Integrated Computers, Epsilon Omega,
Computerland, Wiss, Global Internet and Africa Online.
Computer
per 100 inhabitants: 0.12 (2000)
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ICT Training and Development
The Departments of Electronic
Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Malawi offers course programmes leading
to undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Electronic Engineering and Computer Sciences
respectively.
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Broadcasting/Media
TV Malawi, Malawi
Broadcasting Corporation, Capital radio FM, Radio 101, African Bible college Radio, Radio
Maria, Nation Publications, Malawi News Agency, Blantyre Printing and Publications, and
UDF News Ltd. It is worth noting that there are other publishing houses being run by the
Church in the country.
RADIO NETWORKS
Malawi Broadcasting Corporation,
Capital radio FM, Radio 101, African Bible college Radio, Radio Maria
TELEVISION
TRANSMISSION
TV Malawi
Radios
per 100 inhabitants: 0.3
Television
receivers per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2000)
Cable
TV subscribers: No cable TV provider at the moment.
Home
satellite dishes/antennas: 100 (African Telecommunication
Indicators 2001)
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