Recent statics from Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has revealed that only 14% of the Malawi population has access to the internet. As a response to this digitisation hindrance, the Malawi Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) has drafted three strategies for the Digital Malawi Project to digitise public-private sectors.
The PPPC, through a credit facility of US$72.4 million from the international Development Association of the World Bank, will establish a particular purpose vehicle (SPV) to construct a backbone network between Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, and the city of Nacara in Mozambique. In addition to connecting all government systems through the internet, the PPPC will ensure that the internet is accessible and affordable throughout the country.
In speaking about the strategies, PPPC said that the National Broadband Strategy, Digital Governance Strategy, and Cybersecurity Strategy would address challenges within the country’s telecommunications industry, with affordable internet access representing a major customer needs experience. Additionally, the Digital Governance Strategy aims at making Malawi a more competitive country for digital investment and innovation.
According to Patrick Kabambe, the CEO of the Commission, the commission has engaged the Ministry of Information and MACRA to launch the strategies officially. Kabambe highlighted that an enormous amount of investment was required for the project. The commission is looking into various stakeholders to assist in realising the massive transformation of digital technologies.
The Ministry of Information’s Principal Secretary, Francis Bisika, said that the ministry would negotiate pricing with mobile operators, which would benefit the digital transformation drive.
