The Malawi Communications Policy was put in place in 1998. This latest revision of the policy was done in December 2000 when a change was made to allow Internet Service Providers to procure and operate a full Internet gateway via VSAT. The Communications Policy if fully presented in these pages.

Attempts have been made to come up with an integrated Malawi Informations and Communitions (ICT) Policy. These attempts are at various stages. A national workshop was held in September 1999. Details on this workshop can be found here. In 2001, a new attempt is being made and the details are available here.

COMMUNICATIONS POLICY (1998):   EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Communications Policy Statement outlines the national policy for the development of the country's Communications Sector, covering broadcasting (both radio and television), telecommunications and postal services.

The Policy aim is to ensure that the full range of modern services is accessible by all the population of Malawi. To achieve this aim , the policy focuses on the efforts of service providers more closely and need to restructure existing institutions in the sector in order to meet challenges that lie ahead.

To harmonise operations in the sector, The Malawi Government will establish an independent regulatory authority to regulate telecommunications, posts, broadcasting and the radio frequency spectrum. To that end, the Policy Statement
has set the following performance targets and strategies towards the goal of offering the best service to match the best in Africa:

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

a)     to increase the number of working telephone lines from the present 35,000 to 150,000 by the year 2003;

b)     to ensure that the quality of service meets acceptable international standards;

c)     to liberalise the market in respect of the provision of services such as Internet, e-mail, data and paging;

d)     to reduce the price of telecommunication services in real terms;

e)     to ensure extension of modern telecommunication services to rural areas; and

f)     to allow private sector participation in the provision of telecommunication services.
 
POSTAL SERVICES

a)     to separate posts from telecommunications;

b)     to re-orient the sector into a viable and sustainable venture so that it is able to cover its operational costs after an initial transitional period of two years; and

c)     to create a postal service which will be reliable and efficient and which will provide services at affordable rates to the majority of the people.

BROADCASTING

a)     to ensure that a full range of broadcasting services (both radio and television) are made available to the people of Malawi; and

b)    to reconstitute the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation so that it meets the aspirations of the people under the new political dispensation.

REFORM OF REGULATORY ARRANGEMENTS

to establish a regulatory institution, to be known as the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), to be charged with the responsibility of regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and postal services and management of the radio spectrum.