Minister banks on fibre backbone to fast-track digital inclusion

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba says government has stepped up efforts to build a digitally inclusive economy. Speaking after a tour of Optic Fibre Communications (OFC) facilities in Blantyre on Thursday, the minister said the push aligns with Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development strategy, which requires both public and private sector participation. Namalomba said the country will leverage the 7 000 kilometre fibre backbone operated by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi through OFC, which provides nation-wide coverage.

He said government is also restructuring underperforming telecentres into multi-service hubs offering Internet, financial and e-government services. “The directive is clear that all entities must embrace digital technology if we are to become an inclusive and digitally connected nation,” said Namalomba. He, however, noted that high data costs remain a barrier, partly due to fragmented international bandwidth procurement.

On her part, OFC director Stella Senti said the network has enough infrastructure to penetrate rural markets to ensure connectivity reaches underserved areas and supports the government agenda. The OFC, regulated by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority, is expected to play a central role in delivering affordable data and accelerating Malawi’s digital transformation. As of January 2025, Malawi had about 5.86 million Internet users, accounting for 27.7 percent of the total population, according to Malawi Government Annual Economic Report.