Airtel Malawi Plans 19 New Network Sites, Partners with Starlink to Expand Access

Airtel Malawi plc  leadership held a courtesy meeting with the newly appointed Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Shadric Namalomba, on November 14, reaffirming the company’s dedication to expanding digital infrastructure, improving service quality, and supporting national development.

The Airtel delegation, led by Interim Board Chairperson Kaisi Sadala and Managing Director Aashish Dutt, included senior officials responsible for legal, regulatory, and network operations. The meeting focused on collaboration opportunities between the government and the telecommunications sector to advance Malawi’s digital transformation agenda.

Sadala congratulated Minister Namalomba on his appointment and highlighted Airtel’s ongoing efforts to enhance network coverage and customer experience nationwide. Dutt noted that Airtel invests approximately K19 billion annually in digital infrastructure and has contributed about K200 billion in taxes in 2025. The company operates 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies across all sites and maintains multiple redundancy routes via Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania to ensure stable connectivity. Airtel is also partnering with ESCOM to leverage overhead power lines and with Starlink Lilongwe Ltd to strengthen connectivity in underserved areas.

The meeting addressed challenges such as foreign exchange shortages that hinder equipment procurement and network maintenance. Minister Namalomba said the government would engage the Ministry of Finance to prioritize payments to foreign vendors and encouraged local solutions, including smartphone assembly within Malawi to boost digital access.

Tax policy adjustments were also discussed, with the Minister suggesting a shift from taxing devices to taxing services to make smartphones more affordable for citizens. He proposed establishing a joint working committee between government and ICT sector players to meet quarterly and address industry challenges, including dropped calls, high taxes, and forex constraints.

The engagement underscores a shared commitment to fostering a more connected and digitally inclusive Malawi through government-industry collaboration and sustained investment in technology infrastructure.