MACRA acting Director General, Mayamiko Nkoloma (right) during an engagement with ICTAM president Clarence Gama
* While several telecoms players are investing in infrastructure, there is a need for deliberate coordination to ensure services are well spread across the country
* In order to reach underserved areas, and provide the bandwidth required for today’s digital services.
* Encouragingly, Malawi is already implementing projects aimed at connecting the unconnected. This year, new telecom towers are planned for under-served regions
By Duncan Mlanjira
For Malawi to drive its digital transformation agenda, reliable and affordable digital infrastructure is no longer an option but a foundation of modern economies in order to build a strong digital backbone.
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Thus has been emphasised by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) acting Director General, Mayamiko Nkoloma in an interview after a series of engagements with key players in the country’s information & communication technology (ICT) industry.
Nkoloma observes that for Malawi to develop meaningfully, it must first strengthen and coordinate its national digital backbone, adding: “While several telecommunications players are investing in infrastructure, there is a need for deliberate coordination to ensure services are well spread across the country, reach underserved areas, and provide the bandwidth required for today’s digital services.
“Encouragingly, Malawi is already implementing projects aimed at connecting the unconnected. This year, new telecommunications towers are planned for underserved regions.
“To maximise impact, industry stakeholders must work together to define priority areas and avoid duplication,” Nkoloma said, and cited Rwanda as providing a strong African example, “where coordinated broadband planning and infrastructure sharing enabled nationwide connectivity and rapid digital growth”.
Nkoloma highlighted that once the digital backbone is strengthened, the next step is to unlock innovation, saying: “Digital infrastructure only creates value when it enables local innovators, startups, and software developers to build solutions that respond to national needs.”
He cites as a perfect example MACRA’s Connect a School (CAS) initiative, which seeks to establish ICT laboratories in secondary schools across constituencies: “However, connectivity must be complemented by relevant digital applications such as e-learning platforms, digital libraries, and communication tools developed by local innovators.”
He added that MACRA is repositioning itself to champion innovation and research through its ICT development department, which will support research, pilot projects, innovation programmes and partnerships that translate ideas into practical digital solutions, ensuring that digital transformation benefits all sectors of the economy.
“To fully unlock this potential, Malawi must deliberately identify and nurture digital talent nationwide. Establishing National ICT Innovation Awards will help expose unique talent and inspire young innovators.
“Winning ideas should then go through incubation programmes to transform them into market-ready products. This requires collaboration with academia, industry experts, and experienced innovators, including drawing expertise from outside Malawi where necessary,” says Nkoloma.
A meeting with Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL)
He also highlighted countries such as India and Kenya, which demonstrate what is possible that “through investment in infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and talent development, they have become global technology players, creating jobs and export revenue”.
“Malawi’s digital transformation is a shared responsibility,” stresses the acting Director General. “By strengthening our digital backbone, opening the sector to innovation, and nurturing talent, we can build an inclusive digital economy that creates opportunity for every citizen, in every corner of the country.
Over the week, Nkoloma had engagements with key players in the ICT sector, including mobile network & internet service providers, academia, Helios Towers, ICT Association of Malawi, Malawi Telecommunications Limited (MTL), AZAM TV and Public Private Partnership Commission with a focus building collaborations to drive digital transformation.
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