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Malawi Communications Sector Policy 1998

POLICY: FOREWORD

Some reforms are underway worldwide in the communications sector driven by rapid technological innovation, increasing globalization, stiffer competition and huge capital requirements. For any country to achieve rapid economic development, it is imperative to improve communication services. In order to meet the aspirations of the general public and accelerate improvement of communication services in Malawi,, the Government has decided to deregulate both the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and provide a framework for the liberalization of the whole communications sector.

I am pleased to state that this document, the Communication Sector Policy Statement, now in your possession, forms and constitutes Government policy on communication for the country. The Policy Statement represents the culmination of an extensive process of consultations within and outside the country and is a product of multicultural interaction among several players from the Government, the private sector and the general public. In a democracy, such consultations are of fundamental importance in order to ensure that the policy enjoys the widest possible support of, and acceptance by, the people and stakeholders on whom it is envisaged will make an appropriate impact.

The policy has taken into account full recognition of the dynamic changes which radically affect the roles of 'communication in the social and economic development of Malawi. It will be necessary to review the policy periodically in order to take into account and accommodate unpredictable rapid changes in technology,, trade liberalization, globalization and social attitude.

In the meantime,, government is putting in place a full range of modern services which should be accessible by all the population of Malawi. Those living in the rural areas should at least have access to basic communication services. The situation at the moment is that 80% of the telephone lines are available to only 20% of the population of Malawi living in urban areas. The majority of the rural population is left without adequate telephone lines. This situation will be improved.

Lastly, I would like to thank all the people who, in one way or another, contributed towards the formulation and development of this policy statement. They are too many to list all of them by name. However, my special thanks go to stakeholders for their invaluable contribution towards the formulation of the policy, members of the Task Force for their assistance in drafting the policy statement,, the Royal Danish Government for funding the project and a British Consultant, and officials of the Ministry of Information for their administrative and technical support during the preparation of the policy statement.

MPASU, M.P.
MINISTER OF INFORMATION
lst AUGUST, 1998
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
LILONGWE 3

MALAWI COMMUNICATIONS SECTOR POLICY 1998

The Malawi Communications Policy was put in place in 1998. This latest revision of the policy was done in December 2000 when a change was made to allow Internet Service Providers to procure and operate a full Internet gateway via VSAT. The Communications Policy if fully presented in these pages.

Attempts have been made to come up with an integrated Malawi Information and Communications (ICT) Policy. These attempts are at various stages. A national workshop was held in September 1999.

COMMUNICATIONS POLICY (1998): EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Communications Policy Statement outlines the national policy for the development of the country's Communications Sector, covering broadcasting (both radio and television), telecommunications and postal services.

The Policy aim is to ensure that the full range of modern services is accessible by all the population of Malawi. To achieve this aim, the policy focuses on the efforts of service providers more closely and need to restructure existing institutions in the sector in order to meet challenges that lie ahead.

To harmonize operations in the sector, The Malawi Government will establish an independent regulatory authority to regulate telecommunications, posts, broadcasting and the radio frequency spectrum. To that end, the Policy Statement has set the following performance targets and strategies towards the goal of offering the best service to match the best in Africa:

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

1. To increase the number of working telephone lines from the present 35,000 to 150,000 by the year 2003;
2. To ensure that the quality of service meets acceptable international standards;
3. To liberalize the market in respect of the provision of services such as Internet, e-mail, data and paging;
4. To reduce the price of telecommunication services in real terms;
5. To ensure extension of modern telecommunication services to rural areas; and
6. To allow private sector participation in the provision of telecommunication services.

POSTAL SERVICES

1. To separate posts from telecommunications;
2. To re-orient the sector into a viable and sustainable venture so that it is able to cover its operational costs after an initial transitional period of two years; and
3. To create a postal service which will be reliable and efficient and which will provide services at affordable rates to the majority of the people.

BROADCASTING

1. To ensure that a full range of broadcasting services (both radio and television) are made available to the people of Malawi; and
2. To reconstitute the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation so that it meets the aspirations of the people under the new political dispensation.

REFORM OF REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS

To establish a regulatory institution, to be known as the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), to be charged with the responsibility of regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and postal services and management of the radio spectrum.