Malawi targets key districts for universal telecoms access

As part of a multimillion-dollar World Bank-financed programme, the Malawi government is inviting applications from eligible firms wishing to provide universal- access Internet and telephony services to people living in several targeted districts.

“Bidding for the projects will be conducted through the inter- national competitive bidding procedures specified in the World Bank’s guidelines, and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the guidelines,” says acting director-general of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority James Chimera.

On the provision of universal access to Internet services, Chimera says the assignment will involve the provision of Internet points of presence (Pops) in the districts of Phalombe, Mulanje, Nsanje, Neno and Mwanza, Ntcheu, Rumphi and Chitipa.

He says the Internet project is expected to benefit 3,2-million rural people living in the targeted districts, and will include support for schools so that they have access to the Internet, as well as assistance with local content development and training.

“The obligation is to establish Pops in district centres. The subsidy for the project is based on the costs of the required Pops,” says Chimera.

On the provision of universal access to telephony services, Chimera says the preferred bidder will be expected to provide 1 274 public phones in ten districts, namely Zomba, Phalombe, Mulanje, Nsanje, Neno, Mwanza, Mangochi, Ntcheu and Chitipa.

“It is required that the bidder [installs] public phone bureaus with patronage levels similar to those of telephone bureaus in Malawi and village phone shops in other African countries. The requirement for the public phones will be to establish one public phone for every 1 500 inhabitants in the rural parts of the districts, excluding district centres,” says Chimera.

He adds that the winning bidder will not only be required to provide public access phones in parts of the districts that already have service but also in newly reached areas by the year 2010 so that the entire district has sufficient access to public phones.

“It is assumed that the operators’ plans to cover 97% of the population of every district by 2010 will take place as planned. A subsidy amount will be paid, based on establishing the required number of public phones for the covered areas.”