• 5G to support smart services as data demand and usage rise
  
• High deployment costs pose challenge to nationwide 5G rollout

Airtel Malawi began commercial 5G service earlier this week, offering faster internet speeds, lower latency, and greater network capacity. The operator now joins rival TNM, which rolled out 5G in Lilongwe in July 2025.

Airtel’s 5G network is currently available in Lilongwe and nine other cities, including Blantyre, Dowa, Kasungu, and Zomba, with 56 sites already live. The company plans to extend coverage gradually over the coming months.

The launch of 5G intensifies competition in Malawi’s telecom market as rising data usage drives demand for higher-capacity networks. Airtel says the technology will enable smart-city services, telehealth, digital education, and advanced enterprise applications.

Airtel Malawi remains the market leader, reporting 8.1 million subscribers in FY2024 and revenue of 270.96 billion kwachas (about 156.6 million dollars), including 58.98 billion from data services. By December 2024, TNM had around 5 million subscribers, with revenue of 158.17 billion kwachas and net profit of 10.05 billion.

Nationwide 5G coverage, however, remains a major challenge. A 2022 Ericsson study estimated initial deployment costs at between 3 and 8 billion dollars per country, with an additional 20% to 35% required to extend coverage nationwide.

Isaac K. Kassouwi