MACRA calls for public's help to improve mobile network service quality
The authority is requesting the public to submit names of areas where they are experiencing poor service quality, including the area, constituency, and district.
Malawi: The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has called for information from the public regarding the quality of service provided by mobile network operators in the country.
According to a statement from the authority, MACRA is mandated to regulate and monitor the provision of communications services and ensure that reliable services are provided throughout the country in accordance with the principles of transparency, certainty, market orientation, efficiency, and consumer satisfaction.
The statement, released on January 16, 2023, expresses MACRA's concern over network performance degradations and poor quality of service (QoS) for voice calls across the country, as well as an increase in consumer complaints.
"The Authority has noted, with great concern, the network performance degradations resulting in the poor Quality of Service (QoS) for voice calls across the country as well as the rise in consumer complaints on the same," said the statement.
In response to these concerns, MACRA has been addressing the issues with mobile network operators and is working to find solutions to improve the quality of service.
"In recognition of the important role that mobile network services play in consumers' day-to-day lives, MACRA has been addressing the issues with the concerned operators, and further remedies to address the QoS concerns are being taken," said the statement.
To address these issues, MACRA plans to conduct a joint network performance audit with mobile network operators on major routes in the country, in order to identify the causes of network degradation.
The authority is requesting the public to submit names of areas where they are experiencing poor service quality, including the area, constituency, and district.
"The Authority is, therefore, requesting the public to submit names of areas where they are experiencing poor service quality. This is important as the success of the Audit will depend on tackling challenges that exist in specific areas reported or detected by the joint audit," said the statement.
The public is asked to submit their complaints to the Director General of MACRA by January 24, 2023, via email at dg@macra.mw or by mail to MACRA House, 9 Salmin Amour Road, Private Bag 261, Blantyre, Malawi.