Malawi, Zambia ink affordable Internet MoU

Malawi and Zambia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a 'Diplomatic Data Corridor' aimed at enhancing Internet connectivity while reducing data prices between the two countries.

At the signing ceremony last week, Malawi's Information and Digitalization Minister Moses Kunkuyu said low-cost Internet will present citizens with new opportunities.

He added that the collaboration between the two countries was beginning to bear fruit as ideas and thoughts had now moved into tangible areas of cooperation.

"Together we have resolved to collaborate in telecommunication, ICT policy, and regulation, spectrum management, satellite communications, cybersecurity as well as joint venture digitalization and ICT," Kunkuyu told the Nyasa Times.

Zambia Technology and Research Minister Felix Mutati said Internet connectivity was very important for economic advancement and opportunity expansion in both countries.

Diplomatic Data Corridor ins and out

The corridor agreement will entail establishing a passage of Internet through Zambia to Malawi, with the agreement allowing Malawi to use government infrastructure in Zambia at a reasonable cost, ESCOM added in a statement.

Furthermore, the Diplomatic Data Corridor will be established between Malawi's Electricity Supply Corporation (ESCOM) and Zambia's FibreCom.

"This agreement will enable ESCOM to purchase Internet at a friendly cost and help bring down the cost of data in Malawi as digitalization is a vehicle we cannot afford to miss if we talk about the transformation of Malawi," Kunkuyu continued.

ESCOM CEO Kamkwamba Kumwenda said the aim of the agreement was to reduce the cost of data.

The corridor agreement will entail establishing a passage of Internet through Zambia to Malawi, with the agreement allowing Malawi to use government infrastructure in Zambia at a reasonable cost. (Source: Image by Freepik).

"The Diplomatic Data Corridor agreement lays the foundation for such connectivity to cater for the communication needs of the present and future generations," Kumwenda said.

"ESCOM as the implementing agency, on behalf of the Malawi government, is committed and ready to provide digital services that are available, reliable, and affordable," the CEO added.

Mutati said the government of Zambia will continue to work with Malawi in ensuring that both countries' citizens have access to cheaper Internet as it is the catalyst for development.

Daud Suleman, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) director general, said the agreement allows Malawi to use the government infrastructure in Zambia at a reasonable cost.

Connectivity deals everywhere

The MoU between Zambia and Malawi comes at a time when other companies and countries are inking similar deals across the continent.

In July 2023, Paratus Group and Ceragon agreed to provide high-capacity wireless offshore communication solutions in Angola.

That deal followed and announcement by Liquid Dataport to expand its fiber network connecting Angola and Zambia directly.

In May 2023, Angola Cables and telecommunications company Orange struck an infrastructure sharing agreement on the West African Djoliba Network.

That new route follows a partnership between Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Nokia on a new terrestrial fiber route connecting Mombasa, Kenya, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Also in May, MTN Group's Bayobab partnered with infrastructure investment agency Africa50 to build a terrestrial fiber cable worth 6 billion South African rand (US$328 million) at the time.

At the beginning of March 2023, the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement with wholesale telecommunications infrastructure provider Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) to build a new fiber optic backbone network in the eastern region of the DRC.

In January 2023, Dark Fiber Africa (DFA) and BCS also completed the first stage of their long-haul fiber backbone project in Zimbabwe.

*Top image is of Malawi's Information and Digitalization Minister Moses Kunkuyu on the left and on the right Zambia Technology and Research Minister Felix Mutati (Source: ESCOM).

&ndasj; Matshepo Sehloho, Associate Editor, Connecting Africa