Malawi Moves to Expand Rural Connectivity with 90 New Telecom Towers
The rollout of new towers is expected to play a key role in improving network coverage, enabling greater digital participation, and supporting socio-economic development across the country.
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has announced progress in expanding digital connectivity across Malawi through the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP), as plans advance to procure service providers for the rollout of more than 90 new communication towers nationwide.
The development was highlighted during a consultative meeting held in Blantyre, where DMAP officials engaged mobile network operators, internet service providers, satellite companies, and other key industry stakeholders. The session provided updates on the project’s scope, implementation strategy, and upcoming procurement processes.
Supported by the World Bank, the initiative is aimed at addressing connectivity gaps, particularly in underserved and rural areas. A recent study cited during the meeting revealed that Malawi requires more than 1,000 communication towers to achieve nationwide coverage, underscoring the scale of the infrastructure deficit.
MACRA Director General Daud Suleman emphasized that while DMAP is committed to deploying around 100 towers, the regulator will continue to allocate funds from its annual budget to the Universal Service Fund in order to support further expansion. However, he acknowledged that existing funding levels remain insufficient to fully meet the country’s connectivity needs.
The Digital Malawi Acceleration Project is designed to enhance access to critical ICT infrastructure for both public and private sectors, with a broader goal of delivering inclusive, reliable digital services to all Malawians. The rollout of new towers is expected to play a key role in improving network coverage, enabling greater digital participation, and supporting socio-economic development across the country.
