CHALLENGES OF UNIVERSAL ACCESS AFRICAN SOLUTIONS FOR AFRICA

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CHALLENGES OF UNIVERSAL ACCESS AFRICAN
SOLUTIONS FOR AFRICA

• COUNTRY CASE FOR MALAWI
• PRESENTED BY L.L. MOMBA

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INTRODUCTION

• Communications reforms in Malawi started almost
• half a decade ago with
• The de-linking of the Malawi Posts and
  Telecommunication reforms (MPTC) into Malawi
  Telecommunications Limited (MTL) and the Malawi
  Postal Corporation (MPC).
• The Community Sector Policy Statement was
  produced by the Government of Malawi in 1998.
  

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INTRODUCTION contd

• An autonomous regulatory authority, MACRA (Malawi
  Communications Regulatory Authority) was
  established in 1999.
  
• MACRA has presently concentrated its focus on
  facilitating the formulation of UA/US policy with
  a bearing on ICTs and Rural Communications
  Development.

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POLICY AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

• One fixed operator (MTL) and two mobile operators
  (CELTEL TNML) with a third mobile operator duly
  licenced though not operational.
  
• Liberalized communications sector with technology
  neutral regulation.
  
• Most network expansion confined to urban areas
  which are deemed economically viable.

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PROCESS AND KEY CONTENT OF UA POLICY

• Unfortunate scenario because RCD policy has not
  been passed thus UA/US has not been fully
  advanced.
  
• Initial country wide sector review was delayed
  after the pull out of DANIDA funding.
  
• Rural Telecommunications forum brought together
  all stakeholders to identify critical issues for
  the RCD policy.
  
• RCD draft policy is pending final review before
  submission to cabinet.
  

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PROCESS AND KEY CONTENT OF UA POLICY contd

• National ICT policy has just been drafted with a
  bearing drawing synergies from the RCD policy.
  

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STATISTICS

• Malawi has 3 regions and 28 administration
  districts.
  
• Population about 12 million with 50 being youths
  (not more than 35 years).
  
• Agriculture contributes to about a third (36) to
  the GDP.
  
• 80 of the population live in the rural areas,
  11 involved in the estate sub-sector with the
  others on subsistence level.
  
• Mobile operators have expanded coverage to about
  75 of the country though combined subscription
  is only around 220,000.
  
• Fixed lines stagnating at around 75,000.
• 1000 public payphones.
• 13 ISP operating mostly in the urban areas.

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MOTIVATION AND RATIONALE

• The Government of Malawi recognizes that
  communications is an important tool for
  development (especially ICTs as a tool for
  socio-economic development).
• 80 of the population that live in the rural
  areas have access to less than 20 of the
  services.
  
• National telecommunication indicators are very
  low in the region.
  
• - tele-density of 3.5 (both fixed and mobile).
• - rural penetration very minimal.

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MOTIVATION AND RATIONALE contd

• The desire to set framework for rural
  communication services and initiate rural
  expansion.
  
• The drive to address UA/US as a high national
  priority and identify mechanisms for addressing
  such issues.
  
• The need to address the challenges of
  disproportionate distribution of communication
  services.

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PROGRAM ACTIVITY OVERVIEW

• Formulation of position paper on National
  Development Perspective (NPD).
  
• Learn (best practices) by gathering experiences
  of other African countries.
  
• Conduct countrywide review and baseline market
  demand survey and subscriber projections.
  
• - classify Malawi into profitable and
  non-profitable areas.
  
• - develop network plans and analyse user
  solutions.
  
• 4. Perform a socio- economic analysis
• - derive synergies to other developmental
  policies already in
  
• place.

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PROGRAM ACTIVITY OVERVIEW contd

• 5. Conduct consultative Stakeholders workshop.
• - define roles for all players involved (shared
  responsibilities).
  
• Formulate UA/US policy.
• - define vision, objectives and strategies.
• - set milestones for easy monitoring and
  evaluation.
  
• - prepare the action plan.
• Implementation.

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CONCLUSION

• The groundwork has already been laid and what
  remains is just to build on this foundation.
  
• Successful formulation of the UA/US policy
  depends on a good understanding of the challenges
  that we face based on the countrywide review.
  
• The learning process that we have gone through
  will help us come up with a better UA/US policy.

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END PIECE

• THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!