The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2024 Africa
Telecommunication systems Malawi, in 35 editions.
The entry for Malawi published Telecommunication systems in 35 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2024. The text changed in 27 editions. Each is shown as published. Telecommunication systems in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 27
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2024
Published as “Telecommunications” (1990 to 1994), “Telephone system” (1995 to 2019) and “Telecommunication systems” (2020 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2024 edition
Changed since 2023The same text in 1990 and 1991.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communication stations;
- 36,800 telephones;
- stations--8 AM, 4 FM, no TV;
- satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communication stations; 36,800 telephones; stations--8 AM, 4 FM, no TV; satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
The same text in 1992 and 1993.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communications stations;
- 42,250 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, no TV;
- satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communication communications
stations; 36,800 42,250 telephones; stations--8 broadcast stations - 10 AM, 4 17 FM, no TV;
satellite earth stations--1 stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT
Published as “Telecommunications”
- fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communications stations;
- 42,250 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 10 AM, 17 FM, no TV;
- satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communications
communications stations; 42,250 telephones; broadcast stations - 10
AM, 17 FM, no TV;
and 1 Atlantic Ocean
Published as “Telephone system”
42,250 telephones
- local:
- NA
- intercity:
- fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio communications stations
- international:
- 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean ) earth stations
42,250 telephones
local: NA
intercity: fair system of open-wire lines, radio relay links, and radio
radio communications stations; 42,250 telephones; broadcast stations - 10AM, 17 FM, no TV; satellite earth stations - 1 international: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean INTELSATand 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT ) earth
stations
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
42,250 telephones domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
local: NA
intercity:
links, and
radio
international: satellite earth stations - 2 INTELSAT Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean ) earth Ocean)
stations
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic :
- fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
domestic: domestic : fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
domestic : domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
1 Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links,
links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations-2 stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and
and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- domestic:
- fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations--2 stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- NA domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: NA domestic: fair system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
The same text in 2002 and 2003.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- NA
- domestic:
- system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
The same text in 3 editions, 2004 to 2006.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- NA
- domestic:
- system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- NA
- domestic:
- system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary
- domestic:
- fixed-line subscribership about 1 per 100 persons;
- privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile cellular subscribership roughly 8 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Rewritten: too little of the 2007 text remains to mark the changes.
general assessment: rudimentary
domestic: fixed-line subscribership about 1 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile cellular subscribership roughly 8 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary
- domestic:
- fixed-line subscribership about 2 per 100 persons;
- privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile cellular subscribership approaching 15 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
general assessment:
rudimentary
domestic:
fixed-line subscribership about 1 2 per 100 persons; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile cellular subscribership roughly 8 approaching 15 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
The same text in 2010 and 2011.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership about 15 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
general assessment:rudimentary rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in
domestic:
fixed-line subscribership about 2 per 100 persons;2006; 2006
domestic:
limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but cellular network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile cellular mobile-cellular subscribership approaching about 15 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2008) (2009)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
domestic:
limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 15 25 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
general assessment:
rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
domestic:
limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
general assessment:
domestic:
international:
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary; two fixed-line and two mobile-cellular operators govern the market
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership about 30 per 100 persons
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2015)
general assessment: rudimentary; privatization of Malawi Telecommunications (MTL), a necessary step in bringing improvement to telecommunications services, completed in 2006 two fixed-line and two mobile-cellular operators govern the market
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 25 30 per 100 persons
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2010) (2015)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary; one fixed-line and two mobile-cellular operators govern the market
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 40 per 100 households
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
general assessment: rudimentary; two one fixed-line and two mobile-cellular operators govern the market
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about 1 per 100 persons; households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership about 30 approaching 40 per 100 persons households
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2015) (2016)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary;
- two fixed-line and two mobile-cellular operators govern the market;
- some mobile services to rural areas;
- in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since July 2018;
- 50 licensed ISPs;
- DSL services are available;
- LTE services;
- trial to increase broadband availability (2017)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 40 per 100 households (2017)
- international:
- country code - 265;
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean);
- recent access to international submarine fibre cable via neighboring countries (2017)
general assessment: rudimentary; one two fixed-line and two mobile-cellular operators govern the market market; some mobile services to rural areas; in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since July 2018; 50 licensed ISPs; DSL services are available; LTE services; trial to increase broadband availability (2017)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership of about less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 40 per 100 households (2017)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2016) Ocean); recent access to international submarine fibre cable via neighboring countries (2017)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- rudimentary;
- 2 fixed-line and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market;
- some mobile services to rural areas;
- in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018;
- 50 licensed ISPs;
- DSL services are available;
- LTE services are available (2018)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 40 per 100 households (2018)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: rudimentary; two 2 fixed-line and two 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market; some mobile services to rural areas; in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since July 2018; 50 licensed ISPs; DSL services are available; LTE services; trial to increase broadband availability (2017) services are available (2018)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 40 per 100 households (2017) (2018)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean); recent access to international submarine fibre cable via neighboring countries (2017) Ocean) (2019)
- general assessment:
- rudimentary;
- 2 fixed-line and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market;
- some mobile services to rural areas;
- in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018;
- 50 licensed ISPs;
- DSL services are available;
- LTE services are available;
- mobile penetration low in comparison to the region average;
- potential for growth;
- national fiber backbone nearing completion;
- prospect of gaining access to international submarine fiber optic cables from neighboring countries (2020)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership 48 per 100 households (2019)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
general assessment: rudimentary; 2 fixed-line and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market; some mobile services to rural areas; in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018; 50 licensed ISPs; DSL services are available; LTE services are available (2018) available; mobile penetration low in comparison to the region average; potential for growth; national fiber backbone nearing completion; prospect of gaining access to international submarine fiber optic cables from neighboring countries (2020)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership approaching 40 48 per 100 households (2018) (2019)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
- general assessment:
- Malawi remains one of the world’s least developed countries, with few resources to build efficient fixed-line telecom infrastructure;
- mobile penetration low compared to region with ample opportunity for growth and competition;
- some mobile services to rural areas;
- LTE services are available;
- national fiber backbone near completion;
- progress in m-payment methods;
- prospect of international submarine cables from neighboring countries;
- importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership 48 per 100 households (2019)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
general assessment: rudimentary; 2 Malawi remains one of the world’s least developed countries, with few resources to build efficient fixed-line telecom infrastructure; mobile penetration low compared to region with ample opportunity for growth and 3 mobile-cellular operators govern the market; competition; some mobile services to rural areas; in a resolution to discourage crime the regulatory has imposed SIM card registration since 2018; 50 licensed ISPs; DSL services are available; LTE services are available; mobile penetration low in comparison to the region average; potential for growth; national fiber backbone nearing near completion; progress in m-payment methods; prospect of gaining access to international submarine fiber optic cables from neighboring countries countries; importer of broadcast equipment from China (2020)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership 48 per 100 households (2019)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect consequent restriction on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable services as a tool for work and satellite - has moderated school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
- general assessment:
- with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries;
- there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services;
- both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services;
- the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region;
- the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs;
- following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third;
- mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector;
- low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022;
- the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region;
- these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households;
- mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas;
- mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 52 per 100 households (2020)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Rewritten: too little of the 2021 text remains to mark the changes.
general assessment: with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries; there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services; both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services; the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region; the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs; following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third; mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector; low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022; the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region; these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 52 per 100 households (2020)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
- general assessment:
- with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries;
- there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services;
- both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services;
- the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region;
- the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs;
- following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third;
- mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector;
- low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022;
- the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region;
- these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 60 per 100 households (2021)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries; there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services; both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services; the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region; the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs; following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third; mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector; low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022; the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region; these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 52 60 per 100 households (2020) (2021)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
- general assessment:
- with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries;
- there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services;
- both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services;
- the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region;
- the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs;
- following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third;
- mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022;
- the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region;
- these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)
- domestic:
- limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 60 per 100 households (2021)
- international:
- country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries; there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services; both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services; the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region; the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs; following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third; mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector; low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, sector, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022; the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region; these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021 (2022)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 60 per 100 households (2021)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
No edition has those words. Try a shorter word.
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Malawi: Telecommunication systems.” The World Factbook, 1990–2024 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/malawi/telecommunication-systems.