USF Malawi Completes Mobile Network Tower Development Project to Boost Rural Coverage
The project focused on identifying and developing optimal tower locations to extend signal coverage and improve connectivity in rural, unserved, and underserved communities.
The Universal Service Fund (USF) has announced the successful completion of the Mobile Network Tower Development Project in four districts — Nkhotakota, Balaka (Mapando Chilanga site), Dedza (Kachindamoto site), and Ntcheu (Matanda and Mkutumula sites) — marking a major step forward in efforts to expand mobile connectivity across Malawi.
The project focused on identifying and developing optimal tower locations to extend signal coverage and improve connectivity in rural, unserved, and underserved communities. By enhancing mobile network access in these areas, the initiative supports greater digital inclusion, enabling more citizens to connect, communicate, and participate in the digital economy.
Implemented by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) through the Universal Service Fund, the project was executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Digitalization (MoID) and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC).
The initiative forms part of the World Bank–funded Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP 2024–2030), a national program aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, improving access to ICT services, and ensuring equitable connectivity for all Malawians.
Through these efforts, the USF continues to advance its mission of expanding digital access and empowering communities, bridging the connectivity gap between rural and urban areas and contributing to Malawi’s broader digital transformation agenda.
