Open Connect Limited (OCL) has attributed high internet charges in the country to Malawi’s geographical position.
Open Connect Limited Chief Executive Officer, Stella Senti, said the charges are driven by costs incurred from crossing neighboring countries especially Tanzania and Mozambique to be connected to see cables.
“Malawi is landlocked and for us to bring internet we must have crossed Mozambique or Tanzania and sometimes Zambia. Therefore, the cost per megabyte (MB) for internet in Malawi is a bit higher than outside.
“Secondly, it is because the equipment that we use is not manufactured in Malawi even the fiber cables,” Senti said.
Commenting on 2019 performance, Senti rated it as challenging.
OCL provides internet connectivity to companies that sell to end users but have in recent years been facing challenges with vandalism of its property.
Open Connect Limited was incorporated on March 8, 2016 following unbundling in Malawi Telecommunication Limited (MTL).
MTL shareholders decided to cut off all fibernetwork to form a separate company that will house, maintain and develop the Fiber Network for national interest.
