Malawi’s minister of finance, planning and economic development, Goodall Gondwe, revealed that the country signed with China a memorandum of understanding for a 160 million Yuan ($22,869,000). The funds will be injected in the construction of a national fiber optic network to improve internet connectivity in the country.

The fiber optic backbone project which was approved by the government of Malawi will benefit from a 2% interest rate. The loan will be repaid over five year. It has a 5-year grace period.

According to Goodall Gondwe cited be the Nyasa Times, this loan will help Malawians living in rural areas will be able to enjoy high-speed internet which for a long time was limited to the capital and some major cities. The official said Malawi has overall six fiber optic gateways to the landing stations of the SEACOM and EASSy cables. Each half of the gateways belongs to operator MTL and Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).

Fiber optic backbone which is being developed by Malawi will be deployed using ESCOM’s power transmission towers. Once the national network is completed, high-speed internet will be directed mostly to the Capital Hill in Lilongwe, to the government offices in Blantyre and to those in Zomba.

Muriel Edjo