MACRA Collaborates with Telecommunication Service Providers to Improve Quality of Services
Recognizing the critical role of telecommunication in the country's development, Kauka emphasized the need for improved quality.
Lilongwe, Malawi - The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has announced its commitment to working closely with the country's telecommunication service providers to enhance the quality of telecommunication services, writes Moses Nyirenda.
The move comes in response to numerous consumer complaints regarding poor service quality.
During Tuesday's opening of the Better Quality of Service Project for Malawi workshop at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), MACRA's Director of Telecommunications, Edward Kauka, addressed the issue.
"Our operators have been providing services to Malawians for a long time, and we have been receiving a lot of complaints about the poor quality of service both in the telephone industry as well as data from consumers," Kauka stated.
Recognizing the critical role of telecommunication in the country's development, Kauka emphasized the need for improved quality.
"Telecommunication is a vital tool in terms of development. For you to do business, you need telecommunication. For you to communicate, you need telecommunication services in place. If this key element is not there, then you are regarded as somebody who is dead," he added.
The Consumers Association of Malawi Executive Director, John Kapito, commended MACRA for engaging critical players in the telecommunications industry. Kapito highlighted the concerns of consumers, particularly the high cost of communication.
"We have been going to MACRA to say the cost of communicating in the country is a bit higher, and now we are happy that the regulator is looking forward to working closely with the operators in telecommunications. This will enable them to be open and up their game," Kapito explained.
The Better Quality of Service Project for Malawi workshop, scheduled to run until September 1, 2023, has attracted participants from both telecommunications consumers and operators.
Major telecommunication companies such as TNM, Airtel Malawi, and ACCES are actively involved in the workshop.
The collaborative effort between MACRA and telecommunication service providers aims to identify and address the challenges faced by the industry, ultimately improving the quality of telecommunication services in Malawi.