Macra says data to fall next year

By Sam Kalimira

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has said Malawians should expect reduced data prices from June next year.

Macra Director General Daud Suleman said, through a taskforce which has been established, the regulator has made strides towards reduction of data costs.

Suleman said this in Mzuzu during a stakeholders’ engagement where he said, from March next year, the taskforce would conduct three studies in areas of data taxation, price model and spectrum review.

“These studies are done by i n d e p e n d e n t consultants who we, as Macra, engage with so to present recommendations which will be later presented to the board. Therefore, we believe that, by June, 2022, a number of initiatives will be done and data prices will be reduced,” Seleman said.

He said Macra had mandate to order mobile service providers to reduce data prices, but said that has potential to negatively impact the companies.

Minister of Information Gospel Kazako said the government would still provide necessary support and also push relevant stakeholders to ensure that data prices are reduced.

Kazako said ICT is very crucial in the development of the country, adding that information related to education, agriculture and business can be easily accessed on the internet.

“We will not be discouraged with the time; we will push because we know efforts are being made to ensure people have access to affordable data,” Kazako said.

Meanwhile, Macra has said it is opening offices in Mzuzu and eastern region to provide communication services closer to the people.