Government has called on the private sector involved in digital infrastructure and connectivity to step up investment and partnerships to accelerate the expansion of affordable and reliable digital connectivity across Malawi.

Principal Secretary for E-Government in the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Mr. Prosper Mopiwa, made the call on Monday during a Consultative Meeting on Digital Malawi Connectivity Initiatives – Rural Broadband held in Blantyre.

Mopiwa: We need to collaborate

The Ministry, in collaboration with the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), organized the meeting with support from the World Bank-funded Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP).

Mopiwa said the scale of Malawi’s connectivity challenge requires collective action, stressing that Government cannot deliver the country’s digital transformation agenda alone.

“Digital transformation cannot be delivered by Government alone. It requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, underpinned by strong public-private partnerships,” he said.

A cross-section of the meeting.

He noted that while DMAP is making significant investments in digital infrastructure and services, the country’s connectivity needs extend beyond the project’s current targets.

The Mopiwa also highlighted other major investments under DMAP, such as the planned deployment of approximately 2,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure, strengthening of the National Data Centre, expansion of the Bomalathu Data Exchange Platform, and the transition to a next-generation digital identification system.

In his remarks, PPPC Chief Executive Officer Arthur Nanthuru described the DMAP targets of 100 towers, 500 public institutions and 2,000 schools as more than infrastructure targets, saying they represent opportunities to improve the lives of Malawians.

“100 towers. 500 public institutions. 2000 schools. Behind every number is a community that can gain better access to information, a public institution that can serve citizens more effectively, and a school where teachers and learners can gain access to digital resources, knowledge and new opportunities,” he said.

Nanthuru: DMAP is a critical investment

Nanthuru emphasised that DMAP’s investments must be viewed as investments in people, education, public services and economic opportunity rather than infrastructure alone.

He further said the ultimate measure of success should not only be the number of towers constructed or institutions connected, but whether citizens experience meaningful improvements in access to knowledge, public services and economic opportunities.

World Bank Task Team Leader Paul Ndungutse said the engagement was important in strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and supporting the effective implementation of DMAP’s connectivity interventions.

The consultative meeting brought together senior Government officials, the World Bank, PPPC, the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), network operators, technology companies and other stakeholders.