Malawi Profile (Latest data available: 2013)
Various statistics (Latest data available: 2013)
Fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0.2
Mobile-cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
32.3
Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100
inhabitants
0
Mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3.9
Households with a computer (%)
4.5
Households with Internet access at home (%)
6
Individuals using the Internet (%)
5.4
Policy Maker (Latest data available: 2010)
Please provide the name and contact details of the
Policy-Maker.
Ministry of Information and Civic Education
Regulatory Authority (Latest data available: 2010)
Name of the telecom/ICT regulator
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA)
Please provide the name of the Head of the
Regulatory Authority
The Chairman of the Board
Please provide the exact title of the Head of the
Regulatory Authority.
Chairman of The Board
Legal document creating the regulator
CommunicationsAct no 41 of 1998
Year separate regulator created
1998
Regulator also regulates other utilities
Regulator autonomous in decision making
Yes
Who is responsible for approving the budget of the
Regulator?
The Ministry of Statutory Corporation
Sources of regulator’s budget and % financed from
each source
• Licence fees, percentage:,
• Spectrum fees, percentage:,
• Regulatory fees, percentage:,
• Fines/penalties, percentage:,
• Contributions from regulated telecom operators based on
turnover • Contributions from regulated telecom operators based
on turnover percentage:, percentage of operator revenue
(turnover):,
• Financial income (e.g. Investment/Deposit), percentage:,
Reporting requirements of the regulator
• Annual report to the Sector Ministry
Regulatory Functions (Latest data available: 2010)
Entity in charge of licensing
R
Entity in charge of interconnection rates
S R Op
Entity in charge of price regulation
R N
Entity in charge of technical standards setting
R
Entity in charge of radio frequency allocation and
assignment
R
Spectrum Monitoring and Enforcement
R
Entity in charge of numbering
S R
Entity in charge of type approval
R
1
ITU ICT-Eye:http://www.itu.int/icteye
Entity in charge of service quality monitoring
R
Entity in charge of universal service/access
S R N
Quality of service standards setting
R
Entity in charge of enforcement of quality of service
obligations
R
Entity in charge of broadcasting (radio and TV
transmission)
N
Entity in charge of broadcasting content
N
Entity in charge of Information Technology
S R
Entity in charge of Internet content
N
S: Sector Ministry
O: Other Ministry or Government body
R: Regulatory Authority
Op: Operator
N: Not regulated
M: If more than one entity or another body is involved in this function, please explain
Level of Competition (Latest data available: 2010)
Local Fixed Line Services2007
N
Domestic fixed long distance
P*
P: 2008
International Fixed Long Distance
P*
P: 2008
Mobile
P*
P: 1999
IMT (3G, 4G, etc.)
P*
P: 2009
Wireless Local Loop2007
C*
DSL
P*
Cable modem2007
N
Fixed Wireless Broadband2007
C*
Leased Lines2009
C*
International Gateways
C*
Internet Services
P*
Cable Television2007
N
Fixed Satellite Services (FSS)2007
N
Mobile Satellite Services (MSS)2007
N
VSAT
P*
P: 1998
P: 1998
P: 1998
M: Monopoly
P: Partial competition (year when competition was introduced)
C: Full competition (year when competition was introduced)
N: N/A
Universal Service - services covered and operator obligations (Latest data available: 2010)
Definition of universal service/access exists
No
Universal access/service policy adopted
No
Voice services included in Universal service/access
definition
• Fixed line private residential service as part of universal service
definition
• Fixed line public payphone service as part of universal service
definition
• Individual mobile cellular service as part of universal service
definition
• Public mobile payphone service as part of universal service
definition
2
ITU ICT-Eye:http://www.itu.int/icteye
Internet services included in Universal service/access • Broadband as part of universal service definition
definition
Other services included in Universal service/access
definition
• Telecentres as part of universal service definition
• Emergency services as part of universal service definition
• Directory services as part of universal service definition
Operators under universal access/service obligation
• None of the above, please explain: The Universal Access Policy
has not been adopted yet, issues to address universal access are
included in the Draft ICT Policy which is to be approved by the
Cabinet in due course.,
Operators/service providers required to offer belowcost prices
No
Financing of Universal Service activities and/or Universal Service Funds (Latest data available: 2010)
Means of financing operator(s) universal
access/service obligations
• Universal service funds
Operational Universal Service Fund
No
If Yes, when? [2007]
2008
Operators/ service providers required to contribute to • Fixed-line operators
USF
• Mobile operators
• ISPs
Means of calculating USF contribution amounts
• Percentage of net revenues (turnover) Percentage:,
USF financed by other sources
Yes
USF budget financing by source (in percentage)
• Government budget percentage: 10,
• Funding from international agencies percentage: 4,
Regulator administrating USF
No
If No, name the entity responsible [2002]
The Fund will be administred by The rural telecom forum of which
MACRA will be part of the form. The physical funds will be kept by
MACRA.
Other financing mechanisms for the provision of
Universal service
No
If Yes, please explain
3
ITU ICT-Eye:http://www.itu.int/icteye