Helios Towers Expands Rural Connectivity Push in Malawi With 55 New Sites

Malawi is looking to expand mobile connectivity in underserved communities as infrastructure provider Helios Towers  commits to supporting the country’s transition toward more advanced mobile networks.

Helios Towers Malawi said it will continue exploring solutions to extend connectivity, particularly in rural areas where access to communications infrastructure remains limited.

Helios Towers Group General Counsel and Company Secretary Paul Barrett said Malawi remains an important market for the company, with the tower operator continuing to support the development of the country’s digital infrastructure and the transition from 2G to 3G, 4G and eventually 5G.

Barrett made the remarks during a meeting with Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director General Dr. Mayamiko Nkoloma at MACRA headquarters in Blantyre. Discussions focused on expanding communications infrastructure and improving connectivity across underserved areas.

Helios Towers Malawi provides tower infrastructure and power services to mobile network operators, enabling operators to share infrastructure and expand network coverage more efficiently.

The company said it has rolled out 233 sites this year, with 40% located in remote rural areas and 60% serving urban communities. A further 55 towers are expected to be deployed by early October, including 28 in rural locations.

Helios Towers is also engaging the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) on ways to further scale up its tower network.

Nkoloma commended Helios Towers for its contribution to Malawi’s telecommunications infrastructure and encouraged the company to explore lower-cost infrastructure solutions that could help accelerate connectivity in underserved communities.

He also called for stronger collaboration between MACRA and Helios Towers on digital inclusion and community outreach initiatives aimed at improving people’s ability to access and use digital services.