After a successful 10 years of providing quality telecommunications services in the country, Airtel Malawi has on Tuesday received three operating licenses from the Malawi Regulatory Authority (MACRA).
The licenses are an Application Services License, a Network Facilities License and a Network Services License. These licenses are for the next 10 years.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Lilongwe, Airtel Malawi Managing Director Charles Kamoto said the license renewal by Airtel Malawi is not only a significant achievement for the company but rather a cause for celebration for the entire telecommunication sector and the country.
Kamoto said over the past two decades Airtel Malawi has played a pivotal role in shaping and enhancing the telecommunications landscape, making substantial contributions to the socio-economic development of the nation.
“Since 2014, we have made significant contributions to the development of the telecommunications sector and the economy of Malawi. We have paid over K59.4 billion to MACRA for levies, fees, and spectrum, and over K17.6 billion in international interconnect levies. We have invested over $176 million in network infrastructure delivering over 1,100 sites with all with 2G, 3G and 4G services, expanding our coverage to 88.2% of the country and serving 86.7% of the population. We have also created self-employment opportunities through our distribution network of 28,000 SIM selling and 115,000 airtime/recharge selling outlets. Currently, over 7 million customers are connected to our network, with 2.6 million of them using data services. We have increased smartphone penetration to 29.1%, enabling more Malawians to access the digital world”, said Kamoto.
MACRA Director General Daudi Suleman said the renewal of licenses by Airtel Malawi shows the trust that they have in Malawi to continue to invest in the telecommunications sector in the country.
Suleman said MACRA currently expects the telecommunications service provide to stick to improved quality of services in order to help in the achievement of the Malawi 2063 Agenda.
“Today we have handed over three licenses to Airtel Malawi and we have done this after the company satisfied all the needed requirements. We are very happy and proud of this development as it shows that they have confidence in us and the country as a place for investment. As you are aware that as a country we have an agenda to achieve, telecommunications services are but part of the larger picture therefore the extension of their stay in Malawi is something worth celebrating”, said Suleman.
The new license has marked 25 years since Airtel Malawi was granted its initial license on February 5, 1999, and subsequently renewed 10 years ago in February 2014
