Presented by:Christopher Banda

ICT Development ManagerMalawi Communications Regulatory Authority

ICT Policy implementation overview - Telecenters Status in Malawi

27th July 2012

TELECENTRE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Hippo View Lodge – Liwonde, Machinga27th July, 2012

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AGENDA

Legal and Policy Framework

Regulatory Framework

ICT sector Performance

Telecenter Models in the Country

Funding structures and operations

Challenges

Future Plans

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POLICY & LEGAL FRAMEWORK The Communications Sector Policy Statement (1998) and the

Communications Act of 1998 are the prevailing legal instruments in the ICT Sector.

Communications Sector Policy: Was formulated by the Government in 1998 to oversee the

whole Communications sector.

MICE is the overall Ministry that oversees the sector including providing the enabling environment for ICT development.

The Communications Act (1998): was formulated by the government though MICE and Ministry of Justice after general stakeholder consultations.

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REGULATORY FRAMEWORKThe Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA)

was established under section 3 of the Communications Act (1998). Operations commenced in 2000 with mandate covering the four basic communication sectors namely;

Telecommunications;

Broadcasting;

Postal services; and

Management of radio frequencies (spectrum).

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REGULATORY MANDATE & DUTIESIn deriving its mandate from the Communications Act, MACRA

undertakes the following duties in regulating the communications sector;

Ensure the provision of reliable & affordable communication services.

Protect the interests of consumers.Promote efficiency and competition.Encourage the introduction of new communications services.Promote research and development.

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REGULATORY MANDATE & DUTIES - cont’d..

Foster the development of communications services and technology in accordance with recognised international standards.

Promoting universal access / service.

Regulating fair access to scarce and vital resources (e.g. radio spectrum).

Serving as a policy advisory body to the Ministry responsible for communications.

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ICT INDICATORSPARAMETER STATISTICAL INDICATOR

Teledensity 30.1%

Fixed Teledensity 1.2%

Mobile Teledensity 28.8 %

Internet Teledensity 3.3 %

Population covered by mobile signal 84 %

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ICT SECTOR PERFOMANCE

ICT SECTOR PERFOMANCE & SUBSCRIBER GROWTH

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20110

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

1800000

2000000

2200000

2400000

2600000

2800000

3000000

3200000

3400000

3600000

3800000

4000000

4200000

Total fixedTotal mobileTotal (fixed & mobile)Internet subscribers

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ICT SECTOR PERFOMANCE & CONTRIBUTION TO GDP

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20100

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

ICT Contribution To GDP

ICT Contribution

Perc

enta

ge

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TELECENTRESOne of MACRA mandate is “to promote universal access to ICT

services”.

MACRA started implementing the telecenters to narrow the “knowledge and digital divide” between the urban and the rural areas.

Telecenters are simply public places where ICT’s can be accessed with the goal of individual and community improvement and development.

These places can be described generically as Multi-Purpose Community Telecenters (MCT’s), PIAP’s, Public ICT Access Points e.t.c.

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TELECENTRE MODELS

Local management committee – LMC’s.

Entrepreneurship model – managed by local business people.

Postal telecentres – managed by MPC.

Operator managed Telecentres.

School / college based Telecentres.

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FUNDING MECHANISMS •funding mechanism through postal and other telecentres.

GoM/MACRA initiative projects

• joint funding of the GoM / MACRA and the ITU

The ITU Special Initiative Project

•the joint funding of the GoM and the World Bank

Universal Access Project

•the RCIPMW - GoM / World Bank funding

Last mile Connectivity

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TELECENTRE ESTABLISHMENTS

FUNDING MODEL No.

GoM/MACRA funded 4

World Bank/GoM UA Project 10ITU/GoM MCTs Under Entrepreneurs’ Mgt 7

ITU/GoM/MACRA MCTs (Under MPC Staff Mgt) 5

GoM/MACRA MCTs (Under MPC Staff Mgt) 10

RCIPMW Last Mile Connectivity 15

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MAP OF TELECENTRES UNDER DIFFERENT INITIATIVES

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CHALLENGESHigh cost of internet bandwidth in the rural areas.

In availability of ICT infrastructure in most rural parts of the country.

Lack of Local content (Language and content).

ICT consumaubles and ICT technical skills not within reach.

Illiteracy.

Power Issues 15

OPPORTUNITIESGovernment political will;

Tax Removal on Internet bandwidth. ICT Policy recognizes the use of ICTs to bring about economic

growth. The communication Act is being reviewed. Skilled labour market: Inclusion of the academia. Network of stakeholders: Constant consultation on national

issues.

Liberalisation: the ICT sector is liberalised.

Economic growth: Stability of economic indicators.

Landing of submarine cables/Fiber optic Cables16

FUTURE PLANSExpand existing telecentre models to other areas

in Malawi.

Introduce the Connect a Constituency Project

All the constituencies will have at least a telecenter.

The target are those which have no telecenter through any other initiatives and are in rural areas.

The project has already started with initial activities.

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Thank you!!!!!

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