08 November 2019

Airtel Malawi has been hit with a MK820m fine for allegedly breaching the Communications Act.

Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) director general Godfrey Itaye told journalists that the operator paid a fine in July, but it remains in breach and will continue paying MK20m per fortnight until it meets the conditions.

“Upon renewal of its telecommunications licence in 2014, Airtel committed itself to have a minimum of 20 percent local shareholding,” said Itaye.

“This localisation of shares by Airtel was to be done within two years from the date Airtel’s licence became operational on February 7, 2014.”

Itaye said before a given deadline of November 25, 2018, Macra engaged Airtel Malawi on numerous occasions in an effort to localise the shareholding.

The Communications Act stipulates that any electronic service provider must have 20% of its shareholding locally, a condition that the mobile service provider failed to meet since its licence renewal in 2014.

Initially, Macra made a determination to fine Airtel Malawi MK500m in December 2018 and further ordered that it should pay another MK20m every 14 days for remaining in breach.