• Malawi launched the Mobile Network Tower Development Project to boost mobile coverage and digital inclusion.

• The project is part of the $150 million Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP, 2024–2030), which the World Bank funds.

• Despite strong mobile coverage, internet use remains low. Only 44% use mobile broadband, and fixed broadband is nearly absent. The new towers aim to turn coverage into real connectivity.

Malawi has launched the Mobile Network Tower Development Project in Mzimba, Nkhata Bay, and Mangochi under the Universal Service Fund (USF), a division of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), which works to ensure digital inclusion for all Malawians. The first phase involves assessment surveys across 21 districts to identify optimal sites for constructing mobile network towers that will improve signal coverage in rural, unserved, and underserved areas.

“Once completed, the Mobile Network Tower Development Project is expected to significantly improve mobile coverage, promote digital inclusion, and enable more Malawians to participate in the digital economy,” said the USF

Implemented by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) through the USF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Digitalization (MoID) and the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), the initiative forms part of the World Bank–funded Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP 2024–2030).

The Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP 2024–2030) is a $150 million initiative funded by the World Bank to expand internet access and digital services across Malawi. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Digitalization in partnership with the Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC), DMAP builds on the success of the earlier Digital Foundations Project and aligns with the country’s long-term development vision, Malawi 2063.

Malawi is making strides toward digital inclusion, but the journey is far from complete. As of 2024, Malawi reported a fixed broadband subscription rate of just 0.0864 per 100 inhabitants, according to ITU data—highlighting the limited penetration of high-speed wired internet across the country. However, mobile infrastructure paints a more promising picture: 90% of the population is covered by at least 2G, while 89.4% have access to 3G, and 88.9% are within reach of 4G networks.

Despite broad coverage, only 44% of the population actively uses mobile broadband. Meanwhile, mobile cellular subscriptions are at 69.3%. The Mobile Network Tower Development Project is an initiative designed to transform Malawi’s digital landscape. By enhancing signal strength and reliability in challenging-to-reach areas, the project aims to transform coverage into meaningful connectivity, enabling more Malawians to participate in the digital economy. 

Hikmatu Bilali