The Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) has given telecommunication companies six months to ensure that they have increased accessibility of online transactions in remote areas.
The development comes as Macra has given the companies up to 1 December 2024 to completely phase out the use of scratch cards and physical airtime, in a bid to align technology with the country’s digitization ambitions.
Macra Director General Daudi Suleman is optimistic that the move will help in environmental conservation by reducing wastes.
Representing telecommunication companies, Chief Executive Officer for Airtel Malawi, Charles Kamoto said phasing out of the scratch cards, physical airtime and data will not negatively affect the companies but it will save forex which was used to buy the scratch cards.
Consumers Association of Malawi representative Indota Mpatama has since called for all the concerned parties to critically look at the implementation processes so as to make it friendly for the ordinary and local Malawian in the rural areas.
