Minister of Information and Digitalisation, Moses Kunkuyu, has called on ICT regulators within the COMESA region to accelerate efforts to expand internet access in rural areas.
Opening the Annual General Meeting for the Association of Regulators of Information and Communications in Eastern and Southern Africa in Lilongwe, Kunkuyu observed that ICT penetration remains unimpressive among most COMESA member states due to challenges related to infrastructure and service affordability.
He therefore challenged ICT regulators within COMESA to attract more service providers to make services more affordable, especially for rural communities.
Commenting on Malawi’s progress, Kunkuyu said the country is a shining example, citing the laying of fibre optic cables across the nation, the provision of free Wi-Fi in various public spaces, the installation of ICT laboratories in schools to enhance digital skills, and lower data charges compared to other countries, among other achievements.
“Studies have shown that there is a big correlation between ICT and economic growth; hence, service providers should strive to go into rural areas,” said Kunkuyu.
Concurring with Kunkuyu, COMESA Assistant Secretary General, Muhammad Kadah, observed that economic growth across COMESA member states will remain a pipe dream if challenges such as high roaming charges are not addressed, as they stifle business activities.
One internet user acknowledged that although Malawi has cheaper internet than most countries, increasing the number of service providers could push prices even lower.
This year’s Annual General Meeting is being hosted by MACRA and has attracted participants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
By Isaac Jali
