Malawi, ITU launch mobile network quality project

The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has launched a 'Better QoS for Malawi Project' that started on August 25, 2023, and will run until February 24, 2024.

The regulator has launched this project in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) over its concerns about the declining quality of service (QoS) for voice calls and mobile data services in the Southern African country.

In a statement, MACRA said the project outlines three aims which include assessing the country's current state of mobile services in QoS parameters and identifying areas that need improvement to enhance user experience.

Lastly, the project will collaborate with local stakeholders and operators to launch targeted strategies and implement solutions that will lead to measurable and sustainable improvements in QoS.

The project aligns with the watchdog's ambition to ensure the provision of quality services while prioritizing transparency, reliability, market orientation, efficiency and consumer satisfaction.

Furthermore, it is in line with the Malawian government's aim to accelerate the development of the ICT sector.

The 'Better QoS for Malawi Project' is scheduled to run for six months and it is aimed at assessing Malawi's voice and data networks. (Source: Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik).

"We aim to provide an enabling and supportive environment for the growth of cyberspace and the digital economy. We cannot digitally transform ourselves if we do not have quality of service for ICT services," said MACRA Managing Director Edward Kauka.

The project comes at a time when Malawi has been on a drive to enhance the quality of its ICT sector.

Just last week, the country signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Zambia to establish a 'Diplomatic Data Corridor' aimed at enhancing Internet connectivity while reducing data prices between the two countries.

African countries work towards better networks

Malawi has taken a lighter approach in its fight against the deteriorating QoS than other African nations, some of which have imposed harsher penalties against telcos who had been found guilty of bad telecoms services.

Last month, Chad's telecoms regulator slapped Airtel Chad with a fine of 5 billion Central African CFA francs (US$8.3 million at the time) for deteriorating network quality.

In May 2023, four mobile operators in Cameroon were fined XAF6 billion ($9.8 million at the time) for poor network quality by the country's regulator.

In June 2023, Moov Africa Togo and Togo Cellulaire (also known as Togocom) were threatened with penalties by Togo's telecoms regulator if they didn't improve quality of services to their customers.

The threat came after Togocom in June 2022 had already received a fine of 2.3 billion West African CFA francs ($3.7 million at the time) for "serious breaches" of its obligation to provide a continuous, uninterrupted mobile service to its customers.

Also in June 2022, Moov Africa Togo was given a formal notice from Togo's ARCEP for similar service issues.

In July 2022, Orange Guinea was fined 9.5 billion Guinean francs ($1.1 million at the time) for "failure to meet its service availability obligations" after a network outage left customers without key services for over 30 hours.

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*Top image source: Image by www.slon.pics on Freepik