Zain Malawi, which is Kuwait-owned, will face stiff competition after the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) awarded Globally Advanced Integrated Networks (GAIN), trading as G-mobile. a license to operate the country’s third mobile network. The announcement last week is followed by the call from Malawians for more competition to ensure efficient telecommunication services.
Presently, the country has three operators with Zain Malawi, leading the market with over a million subscribers, followed by Telekom Networks Malawi, partly owned by the Malawian government.
According to Macra, G-Mobile plans an investment of US$40 million in the next five years.
G-Mobile is expected to launch its network to remote rural areas that lack telecom infrastructure. “If G-Mobile fails to roll out its network in 10 months, its license will be revoked,” Macra Chairman Thengo Maloya said.
Zain Malawi, which has paid a levy equal to 5% of audited net operating revenue annually since it began operating in Malawi, has questioned why G-mobile will pay an annual levy equal to 2% in the first and second years, 3% in the third year, 4% the fourth and 5% thereafter.
Source: www.wirelessfederation.com
